Disclaimer: I ain't Rowling
(Sunday, January 15th)
"So, this is where you disappear off to," Narcissa said, walking around the Room of Runes. She had a hand raised, not quite touching the walls, but close enough to cause the runes to react to her presence. They flared ice blue as she passed; a faint thrum of power vibrated from the runes, tickling her palm.
"Yes," Severus said, smiling softly at her curiosity as he settled down at the desk, pulling parchments and books from his bag. "Not many have won the right to enter, so I've been safe here from the Marauders and our housemates." He dug for his quill and inkpot before adding, "I'm partially convinced it used to be Salazar Slytherin's office, but there was nothing in here when I first found it."
"Oh?" She looked at him briefly as she passed before going back to inspecting the walls.
"His sister is the portrait guarding this room," he said with a nod towards the door. "And the runes, as I'm sure you've noticed, are ancient. I'd wager they're as old as the castle itself. I can't imagine the other Founders would want to position themselves this deeply in the castle, and I can't fathom why else this room would be so heavily guarded by both Lady Slytherin and the runes themselves."
"Have you asked Lady Slytherin?" Narcissa asked from behind him.
"Of course," he said. "She refused to answer, but I didn't really expect her to."
She hummed in agreement before she joined him at the desk; she absentmindedly leaned into his side as she ran a hand through his hair. He wasn't quite sure when she had started being so affectionate with him, but there was nothing wrong with such closeness between friends, right?
"What are you working on, darling?"
He blinked out of his reverie. "Heir Black asked me to quiz him on Herbology; I'm coming up with questions that are similar to what we had to answer on our OWLs."
"You take being a tutor quite seriously for someone who would rather risk a run-in with a nundu - sans wand - than be a professor," she commented mildly, still playing with his hair. He could practically feel the unbridled mirth she was containing by polite will alone.
He rolled his eyes at her. "Heir Black is not an idiot, nor is he a child."
"Ah, I see," she said, her tone carefully mild.
He looked up and saw restrained laughter dancing in her blue eyes. He narrowed his eyes at her, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Do you have anything to work on?"
She shook her head, a grimace on her face. "Not at present, no. For all that I don't like her, Evans is a competent student."
Severus arched an eyebrow at her. "It's rather rare that someone does not like Evans. What'd she do to make you dislike her?"
Narcissa's hand stilled in his hair, and she gave him an incredulous look. "Severus, she hurt you. That is unforgivable to me."
"Ah…" he said, for lack of anything better to say. He knew Narcissa cared for him, just as he did for her, but he was still often left amazed and not a little bewildered when it was made known to him in such plain terms.
She straightened her posture, narrowed her eyes at him, and he just knew she was about to launch into a lecture on his worth in her eyes –
"I never got the chance to ask," Severus said, a little louder than he intended. "But what did you mean by Heir Black wouldn't allow anything I couldn't handle? At the ball?"
She stood over him, hands on her hips for a moment before she visibly gave in to his redirection of their conversation by leaning against him once more; she ran a hand through his hair before letting it rest on his shoulder. He knew they'd circle back to the topic eventually, though. That's just how she was; she refused to let him forget his worth. He rather appreciated that about her.
"Ah, Regulus. He's too clever by half," she said, rubbing her forehead. Her tone was both exasperated and fond. "But as Heir Black, he must be.
"He came to me, asking for more information on you after your take down of Avery. I refused, of course," she flashed him a beautiful smile and gave his shoulder a squeeze. "I do love my cousin, but he's a horrid gossip, this isn't information he needs, necessarily.
"But he is stubborn, nearly as stubborn as you, my dear. And not above placing me in a precarious position with his questions to get what he wants – I fear that would have led to more trouble than I could have handled on my own. So, I told him you swore on a Name, which, as you know, places our relationship above even familial ties according to the Old Ways.
"He pressed when he ought not have, wanting to know why you swore on a Name for me – neither he nor Sirius will live long if they continue to disrespect the Names so blatantly – but as I said, he is too clever by half. He put it together that Malfoy was your reason for pledging to protect me. He… as a Son of Black, he does not have to live with the same expectations that Daughters of Black do. He wasn't aware that we are little more than property of Lord Black to marry off to anyone who could bring an advantage to House Black. He was appalled and offered his own services in helping you keep your vow."
Severus's gaze burned into her – he hadn't really been aware of the status of Pureblood daughters either. "You are no one's property, Narcissa."
She smiled sadly at him. "Unfortunately, you would be incorrect. There are laws in place that make it so. Now, I would suggest you make full use of my cousin-"
"Hold on," he interrupted. "There are laws?"
She pursed her lips at him. "Yes," she said at last. "They are old, not quite as old as the Old Ways, but very nearly. It is not something you can protect me from, my darling, it simply is."
"Well I bloody well don't like it," he grumbled, to her amusement apparently as she smiled beautifully down at him with laughter dancing in her eyes.
"Thank you, my dear," she said. "As I was saying, you should make full use of my cousin, he is a force to be reckoned with once he puts his mind to something, and he certainly has put his mind to this situation."
"It would be… helpful to have Heir Black unquestionably on my side in this," he said at last. "He's got his fingers in so many pies."
"He what?"
He looked up at her, startled briefly. "A Muggle saying," he explained. "He's made himself part of nearly everything, ensuring he has influence in every part of Slytherin. He is, after all, how I got on the Quidditch team, and I wouldn't doubt that he was the one to suggest to Yaxley to invite me to the Squire's dueling – Heir Yaxley wouldn't have given me such a clear opening to power on his own.
"He's very slippery, your cousin. He's not in the forefront of the power of Slytherin, like the Lestrange twins, or Yaxley, but he's got influence throughout it."
Narcissa gave him a sly smile. "That is the Black way. But, because you have sworn to protect me, he will do what he can to ensure you succeed in your plans. He's very loyal to Family, my cousin. He will make a very good Lord Black, one day."
"Mn," Severus hummed, idly drumming his fingers on the desk. He cast his thoughts forward to the coming months, during which he was certain he'd face innumerable challenges to his power – he likely wouldn't be able to catch them all, not without help.
"I will not be able to keep everyone in line," he mused. "Not forever, I'm only one man for Merlin's sake. Do you think he could help in that?"
"Undoubtedly," she said. "I think he would rather enjoy it, too. He was forever sneaking around our parents, trying to figure out what they were talking about whenever they would send us children away."
"Next time I see him, I'll see if he'd be willing," Severus said with a short nod. He turned back to the parchments in front of him, but Narcissa's hand squeezing his shoulder drew his attention back to her.
"Now, why don't we talk about why you were so surprised by my dislike of Evans, my darling?" She had a deceptively sweet smile on her face, but her eyes were hard.
He was in for it now.
Severus suppressed a groan, but he could not deny the warmth that spread in his chest as she launched into a lecture, once again, on how he was worth more than Phoenix tears, Basilisk venom, and Peryton blood combined.
"- and furthermore… what are you smiling at?" she asked, her tirade dying down when she finally registered the content look on his face.
"My radiant and dearest friend, who I am very lucky to have in my life," he answered honestly, pleased to no end by the light blush that bloomed across her face.
"Oh…" fell from her lips, a myriad of emotions flashing in her eyes, his smile held constant throughout. She graced him with a tender smile of her own, and then visibly tried to gather her composure in her straight spine and carefully folded hands over her stomach. "Well, I suppose that is acceptable."
"Is it?" he couldn't help but tease.
"Most acceptable," she confirmed with a firm nod of her head, her eyes soft as she held his gaze. "Most acceptable, indeed, my dear."
{Furius Draconis}
(Monday, January 16th)
Jugson sat, brooding, in a dark corner in the Slytherin Common room. An ugly sneer etched deeply on his face, his eyes glittering with hate, as he watched the way the Slytherins danced around that upstart Mudblood Snape. None of them really knew how to act around him yet, and they likely wouldn't until the Squires' meeting at the end of the month.
Utter hippogriff shit in his opinion. So what if Snape took Avery down in less than a minute? So what if he dueled with the Dark Lord over the break? A duel that was, reportedly, terrifying to behold.
I doubt it was even the Mudblood that dueled the Dark Lord. He doesn't have that kind of power, Jugson groused to himself, crossing his arms over his chest. His sneer deepened when Narcissa Black – the prettiest witch in Hogwarts – attached herself to his arm.
How low the House of Black falls! What enchantments does the Mudblooded bastard have them all under, to make them forget his blood status?
Something had to be done. It wasn't natural – it needed to be fixed, or else the other Mudbloods of the house would also think they could rise above their station.
"If looks could kill, I imagine Snape would be dead by now," a low voice said by his ear.
Jugson scrambled to his feet, heart hammering hard in his chest. He glared at the smug teen, recognizing him at once. "Merlin, Avery. No need to skulk about in the shadows."
Avery gave him a wordless sneer in return. "Fine words coming from you Jugson." The other teen turned his gaze towards the Common room at large, his eyes narrowing when he caught sight of Snape and Daughter Black. "It's not right," he muttered.
"It isn't," Jugson spat, following the other's gaze. "He needs to be reminded of his place."
Avery turned an appraising eye on him. "Oh? And I imagine you think that you'll be the one to do so?"
Jugson flushed at the other's mocking tone. "Shut up. I'll think of something. He's only a fucking Mudblood. He can't be better than me."
Avery's gaze jerked back over to Snape before he looked at Jugson again. "After what happened this break… you may wish to keep such sentiments to yourself, Jugson, unless you're certain that they won't make their way back to Snape."
"What, have you fallen for his siren song too?" Jugson sneered. "I didn't think you to be so weak-"
Avery silenced him with a slash of his wand, his eyes glittering malevolently. "You'd do well not to finish that sentence, Jugson. I have far more reason than you to want to see that pitiful waste of magic back where he belongs."
He glared at his former teammate for a moment longer before releasing the spell.
"So, you agree with me then?" Jugson asked, rubbing at his throat.
"Of course," Avery snarled. "He made a fool of me. Averys do not allow that to happen, not without repercussions."
Jugson's eyes glittered with glee. "Have you thought about what we can do?"
"I've given it some thought," Avery said, inclining his head. "Problem is, he's a bloody paranoid Mudblood. He always wards his room tighter than Gringotts vault, he checks and double-checks his food for potions – hell, he even sets proximity wards around him when he's in the library! There's no way to get close enough to him to do anything without him knowing it."
Jugson sank into his chair again, thinking the problem over. "How the hell did those Gryffindors get the drop on him so many times?"
"I think he was less paranoid back then," Avery said. "Besides, they haven't done anything to him this year."
"The former Heir Black seemed to really hate him," Jugson mused. He looked up at Avery. "Perhaps we could reach out to him? See if he can help?"
Avery's face screwed up in distaste. "He's a disgrace to House Black. And he'd never work with Slytherins, even if it was against Snape."
"So, then we stay anonymous," Jugson said with a shrug. "Heir Black is tutored by Snape, he likely won't be willing to help us in this, not that the little swot ever gets his hands dirty, but we'll probably need the knowledge a Black has to get through Snape's defenses."
Avery rolled his eyes. "I think it will be much easier to ask Heir Black questions without making reference to Snape than it would be to get the former Heir Black to relinquish Black knowledge to an anonymous entity. He's a disgrace yes, but he's not stupid."
Jugson glared at him. "You're right," he bit out.
"Of course I am," Avery sneered. "I will ask Heir Black, I'm in better standing with him than you. Figure out what we can do to him once we break through his wards."
Jugson looked back at Snape and Daughter Black, an idea slowly forming in his mind. "What if…"
"What?" Avery asked, annoyed.
Jugson cut him a look before returning his gaze to Snape and Daughter Black. "What if we went after that which he holds most dear?"
Avery followed his gaze. "Nothing else we did to him seemed to faze him for long…" he agreed before he shook himself. "If you are suggesting we do anything to her, to a Daughter of House Black, you're stupider than I thought."
"If she's lowering herself to fraternize with a Mudblood, wouldn't we be doing House Black a favor?" Jugson asked, his tone bordering on innocent. "She's nowhere near as paranoid as him-"
"That's dangerous," Avery cut him off, his voice low. "Very dangerous."
"But I'm not wrong."
"Let me think about this," Avery snapped. "Don't do anything until I come back to you, Jugson."
"Fine, fine," Jugson said, waving his hands dismissively, but his gaze was cemented on Narcissa Black. She was the way to knock Snape down back where he belonged, he was sure of it.
{Furius Draconis}
(Wednesday, January 18th)
"Hogsmeade is coming up," Alice said nonchalantly.
"Is it?" Lily said, far more focused on proofreading the essay before her.
"I almost forgot, considering Potter hasn't tried to ask you."
"What does that have to do with anything?" Lily asked, lifting her head to look at her friend with furrowed brows.
"I never had to look at the schedule, because I could always count on him to ask you to go with him," Alice said.
Lily blinked slowly, lifting the quill to run the feather over her mouth – the closest she could get with a quill to her habit of chewing on Muggle pens. "I hadn't realized."
Alice rolled her eyes. "He hasn't asked you at all this year. I missed the first weekend because of it!"
Lily hummed noncommittedly, looking back down at her essay but unable to focus on it. James hadn't asked her, not once. She wasn't sure how she felt about that.
Relief should be prominent – she had always dreaded Hogsmeade weekends because the week leading up to them were inevitably filled with James Potter and his incessant and irritating ways of asking her to go with him on a date.
How had she not realized he hadn't asked her at all this year? Had he asked someone else?
Why did that thought fill her with dread? And why did she feel disappointed?
Moving before she was even thinking of it, Lily packed away her things and wandered out of the dorm room, ignoring Alice behind her. Down in the common room, she found Remus with relative ease and sat beside him at his table.
"Wotcher, Lily," he greeted with a smile before returning his attention to the reams of parchment before him.
"Wotcher, Rem," she said, distracted. "Why hasn't James asked me to Hogsmeade?"
He blinked up at her in surprise, putting his quill down. "I thought you hated it when he did that?"
"I do," she said, before sighing. "I'm confused."
He shifted in his chair to look at her better. "What about?"
"James!" she said, almost shouting. No one in the Common Room paid them any mind; Gryffindors weren't quiet by nature and there were plenty of other noisier students that covered her shout.
"What's he done this time?" He asked, his brow furrowing. "I thought you two were finally getting on alright?"
"We are!" She said. "And that's what's confusing!"
"I… I'm confused."
She groaned and let her head fall on the table, the books Remus had spread out before him cushioned the impact somewhat.
"Are… are you… disappointed that he hasn't asked you?" Remus asked tentatively.
"I don't know," Lily moaned, head still on the table, her gut-churning uncomfortably with confusing emotions.
"Do you… like James?"
She lifted her head and looked at him beseechingly. "I don't know. I just know that now that I've realized he hasn't asked me once this year, I… I'm upset."
His eyes glittered with something dangerously like mischief. "You could always ask him, you know."
Lily opened her mouth to dismiss that idea but paused. She could ask him, but then that would put them past being just friends, wouldn't it? Did she want that?
"Maybe," she hedged.
Remus smiled at her, picking up his quill. "Don't leave it too long," he cautioned.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Lily asked, her eyes sharp.
His head tilted slightly to the side. "James likes you a lot, Lily. But I think he's accepting that you don't feel the same."
"But I spent all of Winter break with him?" She said, incredulous.
"As a friend," Remus pointed out gently but did nothing to hide his pleased smile at her slip. "He's getting to know you better, beyond being an unobtainable pretty face. Don't get me wrong, I think it's done wonders for his ego being rejected so many times by you. But if you like him back… it wouldn't hurt to make a move. He won't be trying again anytime soon, if ever. That much I can guarantee."
"I… I'll think about it," she murmured, her thoughts swirling.
"I'll keep this conversation between us," he promised, his pleased smile still on his face.
"Thanks, Remus," she said, rising from the table. She was still terribly confused by her own emotions; I need a nap.
{Furius Draconis}
(Thursday, January 19th)
"I thought you weren't supposed to disturb the vial," Narcissa commented lightly from his side, arm in arm with him as ever.
"You aren't," Severus grunted. "You're not even supposed to think about it."
She narrowed her eyes at the wooden box he held in his hands, before looking up at him. "That is not your Animagus potion, is it?"
"No," he said. He did his best to suppress his smile, but he really couldn't, not around her. A rather recent development for himself, but one he found he didn't mind. He could trust Narcissa with every part of himself, even his emotions.
A slow smile spread on her face in response. "It wouldn't do for the Head of Gryffindor to know your form, after all," she said, catching on. "It wouldn't do for anyone to know it, really, outside of a select few."
"I'd hate to have to register my form," Severus agreed with a nod of his head.
"Yes, that would be most unfortunate," she said with an authoritative nod of her head. "What will you do when a thunderstorm strikes?"
"I'll go to my vial and take it, and then tell McGonagall I forgot and have to start over."
"And here I thought you were willingly giving over an advantage," she teased, lightly bumping his shoulder with hers.
He rolled his eyes at her. "Not likely. I respect McGonagall, but that's not going to stop me from lying to her about this."
"Severus Snape, lying to a professor," she gasped dramatically, her hand going to her chest. "I never thought I'd see the day!"
He looked at her. Her eyes were twinkling with mischief and all he could do was shake his head fondly at her. "Incorrigible," he said. "Utterly incorrigible."
"You wouldn't have me any other way, dearest," she said sweetly.
"Of course not," he scoffed and then smirked at her. "I'd be bored otherwise."
He laughed at her indignant spluttering; it was rare for him to catch her off her guard.
She narrowed her eyes at him, trying to appear stern, but he could see the corners of her mouth twitching up. "Oh, my dear, you are ridiculous."
"Why thank you," he preened.
She rolled her eyes fondly at him. "Foolish, even."
"You wouldn't have me any other way, dear Narcissa," he said, mirth dancing in his eyes.
"And you call me incorrigible!" She laughed.
He grinned brightly at her as they turned a corner, only to have that smile slip off his face when he saw the Head Boy and Head Girl also on patrol.
"What are you two doing here?" Potter asked, frowning at them. "Aren't you and the Hufflepuffs supposed to be patrolling the Dungeons?"
"Professor McGonagall requested I bring my latest project to her office," Severus said coolly. "We've finished our rounds."
Evans looked at her watch and frowned as well. "You're scheduled to patrol for another thirty minutes."
Narcissa looked at the other girl with thinly veiled distaste. "Slytherins know better than to be out of bounds this late at night. Hufflepuffs as well."
"Right," Potter said, sounding like he didn't believe her.
"By all means, go and check if you don't believe us," Severus said, his tone inviting and warm, but with a cutting bite of sarcasm.
"I'm sure you won't regret that at all," Narcissa added, her tone flat and dry.
The Dungeons weren't safe this late at night, and everyone who lived down there knew that. But neither Severus nor Narcissa were about to stop a couple of bullheaded Gryffindors from finding that out the hard way.
Hogwarts had many quirks, and from the ground floor up they were rather whimsical, but in the Dungeons it was more likely you'd end up dueling with a suit of armor, armed with maces and the like, or get pulled into a demented portrait, never to escape.
"Is that a threat?" Potter asked, his hand twitching towards his wand.
Severus rolled his eyes. "No. It's sarcasm, idiot. We make sure our housemates know better than to wander the Dungeons after curfew; patrolling for another thirty minutes would be a waste of time.
"Now, if you would excuse us, I need to get this to Professor McGonagall."
He made to move around the two Gryffindors, but Potter – the moron – grabbed his arm, stopping him. Severus glared at him, his magic flaring almost involuntarily, blistering heat of a fire ignited by a lightning strike. "Release me," he snarled.
Potter jerked his hand back as if he had been burned. He didn't need to look up to see that Evans was likewise affected by his magic. Weak, pathetic, fools.
"Just watch yourself, Snape," Potter spat, subtly shaking his hand out. He moved to jab a finger in Severus's chest but seemed to think better of it, Severus's magic still swirling tightly around him, and settled for pointing aggressively at him instead. "I know you're one of them, and you'll get what's coming to you."
"My, my, Potter… that sounded like a threat to me," Narcissa said, her tone pleasant, but Severus knew it was anything but that. "A poor one, but a threat nonetheless. I do wonder what your Head of House would make of that?" She smirked at them, her eyes glittering, and placed a hand on Severus's back to push him along.
"Good night, Gryffindors," she called over her shoulder, even giving them a jaunty little wave. Severus had to bite his lip to keep from laughing.
They were more than halfway down the hallway before he spoke again. "Have I told you," he said, "how bloody marvelous you are?"
"No, I don't think you have," she answered with a smile.
"You, Narcissa Carina Vivienne Black, ought to be one of the seven wonders of the world."
"Why thank you, my dear," she said with a laugh.
{Furius Draconis}
(Saturday, January 21st)
Severus and Narcissa walked arm in arm down the path that led to Hogsmeade in companionable silence. She had long since gotten over her fears over him going to train with the Dark Lord, especially since it seemed the Dark Lord greatly favored her dear friend.
Even if he had not been angry with Severus that first time he left to meet with him, she would have been worried – and rightfully so! He was a Dark Lord, and regardless of how powerful Severus was, he wasn't on the level of a Dark Lord.
Well… she mused, perhaps he is. He is at the very least close to the level of a Dark Lord.
Their duel at Malfoy's ball had been terrifying in the amount of power they were throwing at one another – and it was undeniable that neither had been holding back. She didn't know of anyone else who could have held up against the Dark Lord for as long as Severus did. Perhaps her sister, but Bella had never thrown around the likes of Fiendfyre as casually as Severus did.
"Oh, my dear, let's go to Scrivenshaft's," she said once they got into the village proper, tugging on his arm. "Regalyan has run off with all of my quills and hidden them away somewhere."
"Summoning them did not work?" he asked, even as he let her pull him along.
"Unfortunately not," she huffed, smiling warmly at him when he opened the door for her. "I have no idea where they could be – it's not like he's managed to leave the common room!"
"Well…" Severus said, his attention straying to a handsome set of raven quills.
"Yes?" she asked, taking note of the quills he was eyeing. It was difficult getting presents for him, so rarely did he vocalize his interest in anything.
He shot her a quick smile. "I'm fairly certain Cassandra has managed such a feat. More than once, she's come up to me smelling of beef, when I only feed her tuna. And the elves have been gushing about a pair of 'handsome sparkly kitties' the last few times I've been to the kitchens."
She stared at him for a moment, before she started laughing. "How do they get back in?" she asked, turning to pick out her preferred type of quills – swan feathers.
He shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine. I've learned not to question Cass's wily ways."
She shook her head wryly and paid for her quills. "They are wily creatures," she agreed, smiling once more as he held the door open for her again.
He snorted at that. "The longer I have Cass, the more I find that to be an understatement."
She quirked a smile at him but said nothing more. They drifted around Hogsmeade, or rather, Narcissa led them around the snowy village, trying to see what else Severus might take interest in. He hadn't shown much interest in anything though, being far more attentive to her rather than the contents of the shops. While that was nice it was also not helpful. She might have to resort to drastic measures at this rate. Severus was spared such a fate when her cousin sidled up to them outside of Honeydukes.
"Fair morn, Cousin, Snape," he greeted them as he came to stand by Severus.
"Good morning, Heir Black," Severus said, his greeting overlapping with Narcissa's "Good morning, Cousin."
"On your way to meet him, Snape?" Regulus asked, his tone innocent.
Severus stared at him, unblinking. "And if I am?"
"Nothing of it," her cousin reassured Severus, raising his hands in a placating manner. "I'm just curious as to how you manage it."
"Portkey," Severus answered, turning his attention back to Honeydukes' window Narcissa had stopped them at.
"Makes sense," Regulus said with a nod. "You go every Hogsmeade weekend?"
Severus inclined his head, not taking his eye off of the display of Peppermint Toads – they had a new flavor out. "Yes. I still have much to learn."
"I somehow doubt that, Snape," Regulus said. "You're bloody terrifying."
"There is always room for improvement," Severus countered. He looked at the teen and narrowed his eyes. "Did you work on your dueling form over the break?"
"Yes, of course," Regulus said hastily, standing straight under Severus's scrutiny.
"Good," Severus said with a nod. "I'll use you for demonstration then, at the next meeting."
Her cousin's eyes went wide as a Mooncalf's. "Me?!"
Severus gave him a droll look. "Don't whine, it isn't becoming."
"Severus isn't going to humiliate you, cousin," Narcissa soothed. Trust Severus to be blunt and not explain anything. "Rather the opposite, I think, given your… common goal."
Regulus settled, and tilted his head at Severus now, his gaze calculating. "Alright," he said evenly. "May I know what you'll require of me beforehand?"
Severus inclined his head in agreement. "Of course. I plan to put everyone through their paces to make sure they've practiced as I told them to. Those that haven't, or those that are particularly horrible at fighting will be… punished. I'll evaluate you beforehand and give you pointers as you need them so you can better assist me.
"I imagine so soon after my last… example not many will be willing to challenge me, but I'll be keeping an eye out for those that likely will. I want you to as well – I'm only one man, and I don't expect to be able to keep everyone in line. But instead of handling them yourself, tell me who they are, and I'll deal with them."
"That's rather well thought out," Regulus said.
"I'm not stupid," Severus snorted. "Given our… common goal, you are the only one I'd be willing to trust in this.
"Ruthlessness does not come naturally to me, but it is something I need to learn in order to succeed."
Regulus nodded. Narcissa could see his resolve strengthen in the set of his shoulders. "Understood."
Severus pinned the teen with a hard, indecipherable stare. "I'm sure you're aware that your close association with me will bring you closer to his scrutiny?" He asked. "That you will be held to a higher standard for it? And will likely suffer harsher consequences should you be found wanting?"
Regulus gave a slow nod. "I will also be afforded some protection for our association," he said softly, in a rare moment of truthfulness that Narcissa had not expected of her cousin. He shared a heavy look with her before resting that same gaze on Severus.
"Narcissa trusts you, I trust Narcissa, therefore I trust you," Regulus offered as an explanation for his uncharacteristically blunt statement. "Certain… truths of my Family have come to light, lately, and I would be a fool not to take what advantages I can."
Apparently, the demonstration at Malfoy's Yule Ball had a greater impact on Regulus than she had initially thought. As had the truth about her position in their Family – he likely had adjusted his own standing within the Family accordingly and thought it best to find what protection he could.
"You consider allying yourself with me to be an advantage?" Severus asked, his gaze sharp and assessing.
"I do," Regulus said, his head tilting as if he were just as surprised by that as Severus was. "Narcissa knew what she was doing when she found a friend in you, Snape. I hope to eventually do the same."
"Severus," he said. "Call me Severus."
"Regulus, then," her cousin said with a sharp but pleased smile.
Severus gave a decisive nod, just as a third Black approached.
"Cissa! My darling little sister, how are you?" Bellatrix greeted. "And Cousin Regulus! Why, it's almost like a family reunion."
"I'm well, Bella," Narcissa said, releasing Severus's arm to close the gap between them to take her sister into a hug. "How are you?"
"Marvelous, just marvelous."
Narcissa smiled at her sister. "Not that I'm not happy to see you, but what brings you here?"
"Ah, I have something to pass on to Severus," she said. "Malfoy was… unable to do so."
Severus snorted before he could stop himself but inclined his head respectfully when her attention landed on him. "Good morning, Bellatrix."
"Good morn, Severus. I trust you know what to do with this by this point?" She asked, handing over the familiar golden rod.
"I do," he said with a nod.
"Good. I'll wait for you here then,"
"Very well," he said. He offered a brief smile to Narcissa and a nod to Regulus before he slipped away, effortlessly blending in with the crowd.
Regulus eyed his cousins and decided to make a strategic retreat, seeing a particular gleam in Bella's eyes. "Cousins," he said with a dip of his head. "I have a few errands to run before I need to return to study."
"Heir Black," Bella said with a nod, looping her sister's arm with her own before she too could make a retreat. "I'll be in touch."
He raised a questioning brow before giving a nod and slipping away from the pair. Narcissa didn't begrudge him for leaving; she knew Bella was there to have a conversation with her that she had been avoiding since Yule, but she would've welcomed his presence to deter her sister from the topic for as long as possible.
"Cissa," she said.
"Bella," she returned.
"I'm sure you realize I am here for more than just passing on the item to Severus?" she said, tugging on Narcissa's arm in the direction of the wooded path that led to the fields and the Shrieking Shack.
"I had assumed as much," Narcissa said.
"Then there is no need to beat about the bush, is there?"
Narcissa remained silent, causing her sister to sigh in frustration.
"Cissa…"
"What, Bella? What do you want me to say?" She asked, turning defensive.
Bellatrix stopped them in the middle of the woods and turned on her. "Tell me you know what you're doing," she said, her voice deadly serious. "Tell me you know the full consequences of your actions."
"I know that Father could very well kill me if I do not marry Malfoy," she said in an icy tone.
"Then why did you go and fall in love with Snape?!" she shouted, startling, Narcissa.
"I – what?" she stammered, and Bellatrix pushed the advantage.
"Don't think I haven't noticed – you've mentioned him at least once in all of your recent letters to me which is more than you've mentioned anyone else. And the way you look at him, Cissa, it's like he hung your stars in the sky! You would not leave his side after Yule, and-and you're defensive of him! A Mudblood!
"How did you let this happen, Cissa?" Bellatrix asked.
"We're Prefects, we have to work together-"
"Oh, don't give me that," Bellatrix snapped. "The way you two interact goes far beyond just being Prefects together – I would know! I couldn't stand my Prefect counterpart! You know you cannot hide things from me, Cissa, not for long, so out with it! Admit that you're in love with him!"
"I'm not in love with him!" Narcissa shouted. "I'm not. He's just a dear friend."
Bellatrix pinned her with an incredulous stare and when her sister didn't even squirm, she blinked in shock. "You actually believe that," she said.
"I think I'd know if I was in love with someone, Bella," she said stiffly, crossing her arms in front of her chest. She ruthlessly pushed all of her… warmer feelings towards Severus away – she couldn't be in love with him, she couldn't. It would end in nothing but heartbreak, and she couldn't – wouldn't - do that to Severus. He deserved better.
Bellatrix shook her head. "Fine. But you are close to Snape, no one can deny that, not after the rounds you two made at the Yule Ball. And I fear what Malfoy might do to you once you are married because of that. Is he worth it?"
"He is," Narcissa said without hesitation.
Bellatrix nearly growled in frustration. "Dear friends are not worth your life, Cissa!
"What is that supposed to mean?" Narcissa asked sharply.
"Malfoy," Bellatrix spat, "is too possessive of you by half – I know he was the most decent of the lot, but he will not be good to you, sister. He will be worse if he thinks you are too close to Snape.
"Is your friendship with him something that would get in the way of your marriage to Malfoy? As much as I hate the little ponce, you must marry him. The eldest of us Children Black have failed you and Regulus, and now you two must pay the price, and for that my sorrow knows no bounds."
"I won't abandon Severus," Narcissa said, her voice hard and unyielding. She knew where Bella was going with this, and she'd die before she cut off her friendship with Severus, even if he had not bound them together with his oath to Protection on her behalf. She would not do to him what Evans did; she would not leave him just because things were difficult.
Bellatrix rubbed her forehead in exasperation. "You know I'm only looking out for you, little one–"
"I will not abandon him," she repeated.
Bellatrix pinned her with a hard stare. "Your loyalty to him goes above and beyond just friends, Cissa. I have never known you to abandon your self-preservation for just anyone.
"Tell me now, little one, do you have feelings for Severus?"
Narcissa crumbled a little at her sister's soft, worried voice. She looked beseechingly at Bella. "I don't know," she whispered. "I care a great deal for him, but I haven't dwelled on it for long – I know I can't. I know I must marry Malfoy.
"But the thought of Severus with someone else?" Her voice hitched and tears swelled in her eyes. "Bella, it fills me with such grief and rage, like-like that of a werewolf longing for the moon. And… if I were to lose him, I, I don't know if I'd be able to continue breathing... I care for him a great deal."
Bellatrix softened and reached to hold her sister. "Oh, little one. This is truly a horrid situation."
Narcissa laughed a little and let herself be pulled into Bellatrix's embrace. "I know, Bella, I know." She sniffed, wiping away a tear that had escaped her. "Severus is aware of how Malfoy is, he… he's very protective of me. He does not like my betrothal to Malfoy. Bella… he swore on Protection for me, against Malfoy."
Bellatrix pulled back, her eyes wide. "Did he now?" she breathed. "Well, that changes things."
"It, it does?"
"Oh yes, little one…" Bellatrix trailed off. She flashed her a sharp smile. "It does indeed."
{Furius Draconis}
(Tuesday, January 31st)
Severus stood in the Dark Hall, his hands clasped lightly behind his back, as he waited for the Slytherins to trickle in. He had been pleasantly surprised with how well Regulus held against him in a duel. In terms of power alone, Regulus wouldn't have lasted beyond the first spell Severus sent his way, but he seemed to have taken a leaf from Severus's book in making himself a harder target to hit by staying in motion.
The younger teen stood on his right side, looking extremely comfortable with his position, and not a little pleased with the uneasy current that ran through the small crowd gathered before them. He really did seem to thrive off sowing chaos in the House.
Severus gave himself a mental shake before turning to the room at large; by his count, everyone was there. Good, he wanted to get this over with.
"The Dark Lord was most displeased when I told him of the last meeting held here," Severus said, his voice causing what little conversation there had been among the gathered Slytherins to cease. "He was even more displeased when I could not name everyone in attendance, due to your masks – masks that you have not been granted the right to wear.
"Take them off, now."
There was some shuffling in the crowd as they hesitated, which Severus acted upon – a hissing fire whip dropped from his wand and a sharp crack over their heads had them scrambling to take their masks off.
"I expect prompt obedience to an order," Severus said, the whip hissing menacingly by his side. "Is that understood?"
"Yes," Yaxley said. His eyes darted nervously to and fro before he looked at Severus again. "If I might ask a question?"
Severus inclined his head.
"What if someone uses our presence here against us?"
"They will come to deeply regret it," Severus said simply, letting his magic seep into the room, pushing his intention to… punish anyone thinking of betraying him. After feeling the fear of the people at Malfoy's ball, Severus had been experimenting with his magic to see if he could intentionally inflict other emotions – and potentially sensations – on others. It would undoubtedly be a useful tool in helping him achieve his goal.
He could feel his magic creeping around the room, stalking those present. He knew they'd feel like a great beast was breathing down their necks, looming and waiting for them to make a mistake so it could swoop down and take its pound of flesh.
He took in all their pale faces and jumpy body language with no small amount of satisfaction. Some of the Slytherins were looking worriedly over their shoulders. One – Jugson – even went so far as to turn with his wand raised.
"Betraying anyone here is the same as betraying the Dark Lord," he said, pulling his magic back in gently, pleased with himself. "Any other questions?"
"Ye-yeah," someone called. They cleared their throat and asked in a steadier voice, "What do we call you?"
"I find that my name works rather well," Severus answered drolly, clasping his hands behind his back once more. "You may also call me Dragon, as that is the title given to me by the Dark Lord."
"That was you?!" Someone shouted, startled.
Severus rolled his eyes. "You'll have to be more specific, what was me?"
"At Malfoy's ball! You dueled the Dark Lord?"
"Ah, yes. That was me," he said, almost bored. His lips twitched up into a smirk when he saw a few Slytherins trading worried looks.
"I do hope you all heeded my command to study up on dueling forms over the break," he said, his tone light, belaying the danger they faced if they hadn't done as he told them. "I'd hate to have to tell the Dark Lord what a… disappointment you all are again. He has asked me to do what I can to train you – any failings in this area are your own; it's of no consequence to me if you don't want to listen and end up dead because of it.
"To test you, you will attempt to disarm me in a one-on-one encounter. Line up by Year, I care not for the order beyond that – go."
There was a mad dash to comply with his order, which pleased him to no end.
Wanting to get the worst out of the way first, Severus stood before the line of Fifth years
"I'll start with the Fifth Years; Heir Black if you would be so kind as to establish the standard dueling wards and take note of how well they perform?"
"Yes, Dragon," Black nodded.
It took little time at all for him to demolish the Fifth Years; he could barely keep a sneer off of his face by the time he was done with them. The Sixth Years were a little better but still utterly hopeless in a duel. The Seventh Years were just as disappointing as the last two.
"Pathetic," he spat as the last Slytherin scrambled away from him and towards their lost wand. He signaled for Regulus to drop the wards with an irritated flick of his wrist. "Absolutely pathetic."
He barely restrained himself from pinching the bridge of his nose. "It would seem that a great many of you decided to ignore my order to practice over the break. What a shame that is. Heir Black, the list, if you would?"
Regulus passed him the list of people who had performed abysmally. How to punish them? It would have to be brutal, he knew. But what could he do to leave a lasting impression?
"Dragon, if I may?" Heir Black asked.
Severus turned to him. "Yes?"
"There is a spell from the Black Library that might prove to be a fitting punishment for those who refused to listen to you."
"Do tell," Severus said, intrigued.
"It's known as the Thousand Cuts hex. It does not actually draw blood, but it makes someone feel as though they have been sliced by a dagger one thousand times."
"The incantation?" Severus asked. "Wand movement?"
"I can perform it."
Severus shook his head. "No, I will. The incantation, Heir Black."
"Lingchi," Heir Black said while demonstrating with his wand a slashing motion.
Severus nodded, and then turned to the crowd, a slow, sharp smile growing on his face. "Avery. I believe you shall go first, come here."
"Lingchi," he intoned, slashing his wand just as Black had done. The sneer was wiped off Avery's face and soon he was gasping in pain, nearly falling to his knees. "Interesting," Severus said, watching him with a detached look. "Thank you, Heir Black, for the spell. How long does it last?"
"Ah, I believe twenty-four hours," Black said.
"Good. Jugson! Hansen! Sutcliffe!"
Severus missed the rather stunned look from Heir Black, and several of the other Slytherins, at his ease with mastering a new spell.
{Furius Draconis}
(Saturday, February 4th)
Peter dreaded breakfast now. Or rather, he dreaded the owls that would be waiting for him at breakfast. His mother had been less than pleased with him this break, and even being back at Hogwarts couldn't stop her from making her displeasure known to him.
Why couldn't she just leave him alone? If he was truly a waste of space like she claimed, why'd she keep bothering with him? Why did she continue to push, and push, and push –
"Hey, Pete!" James called up the stairs. "You coming to breakfast?"
Peter took in a shuddering breath, his eyes darting around the dorm room. "N-no!" He called back, fisting his hands in his blanket.
"Alright!" James called back. Peter could hear the worry in his voice, how could he not? James was never good at hiding his emotions. "I'll bring you a Potter Special!"
A hiccupping sort of laugh escaped him. Leave it to James to be such a mothering hen.
When no other shouts came up, Peter let himself fall back in his bed. The blanket, still gripped tightly in his hands, was a comforting weight, but even so, he was half tempted to turn into Longtooth, just so he didn't have to feel like this.
Emotions were always easier as a rat.
He knew he couldn't avoid his mother forever. He knew he couldn't avoid her demands once he graduated – once he was no longer protected by the walls of Hogwarts, by his adolescence. But then again, Peter never was good at confrontation.
So, he'd keep ignoring her, and her increasingly vehement demands that he join the Knights of Walpurgis. And, and when he graduated, he'd never see her again. He'd disappear, make himself utterly unavailable to her.
Yes. That's what he'd do.
Hello, hello, hello! Big thanks to BurngingRosesAmongstLilies for their help! The next chapter is done too, and I'll probably post that tomorrow (or immediately after this one bc I have no self-control). Beyond that, ch 17 and 18 are mostly written, 19 is like half done, ish, and 20 needs some work. I've been on a roll lately with writing so I'll do what I can to get this story wrapped up!
I have a discord if any of y'all want to come say hi or chat! It's ohgaywarden#9127
