Severus's p.o.v.
I swing my wand and the door of Malfoy manor opens. Turning left, I reach the staircase and move up. On my way I can hear voices. Peter, Lucius and Bellatrix are talking. Soon enough I reach a briefly open door and enter the room.
"Severus.", Lucius greets and I nod in response.
Bellatrix is nervously walking around while Peter is sitting next to a form of Voldemort that is not so flattering. He's wrapped in a black cloth, his arms and legs hanging out.
"Is the boy safe?", Peter asks.
"Yes. For now.", I say.
"So things are going as planned?", Lucius asks.
"Yes. His final task will come soon.", I say.
"And it surely will be his final task.", Bellatrix comments with an evil grin.
"What about the girl? And the oh so mighty God?", Lucius asks, mockery painter all over his last sentence.
"They represent no serious threat.", I say.
"What about his brother? He's the one with the brains.", Narcissa speaks, sipping on her tea.
"Everything is under control and going as planned. No one suspects a thing.", I say.
"You are playing a magnificent role in this, Severus.", Voldemort speaks and I from the corner of my eye I can see Bellatrix roll her eyes.
She was never fond of me.
"Thank you, my lord.", I speak, turning my gaze towards him.
"I almost ...feel sorry ...for killing your beloved Lily. Almost."
His words sting my heart but I know it's a form of provocation.
"You don't have to. She was a traitor and deserved to die. Alongside Potter.", I say coldly.
"I knew that one day you will understand the reasons behind my action.", he speaks.
"Well, maybe that's because our dear Severus has found a ...replacement?", Bellatrix speaks and I look at her.
I knew she wouldn't keep her mouth shut. It's the perfect opportunity to try and smear me in front of Voldemort.
"Replacement?", Voldemort asks, turning his head towards me.
"Bella.", her sister speaks, knowing Bellatrix's putting Draco in a dangerous position.
Bellatrix turns towards Narcissa, "What? I'm just speaking facts. We all heard it."
"Heard what?", Voldemort asks.
Defending myself will give me a bad look so I need to play my cards right.
"Draco told his parents that me and the girl have a relationship.", I say, waiting for his next move.
"Is that ...true?", he asks.
"My only interest is that everything goes as planned. I'm keeping a close eye on her, Thor and his brother.", I switch my eyes from Voldemort to Bellatrix, "Because someone has to."
She rolls her eyes but doesn't say anything back. Very unusual for her.
"Draco only communicated something he heard among his classmates. Nothing ill intended.", Narcissa spoke, trying to sound calm, her eyes looking at me.
It seems like she's quietly begging me not to reveal that they indeed did confront me and it was ill intended. I choose not to speak, knowing the benefits that come with my silence.
Narcissa, unlike Lucius, cared more about her family's well being than Voldemort and being loyal to him. Her son's safety was at the top of her list. Not that Lucius didn't care, more so acted out of fear ...and knew that everything they have, all the wealth and status, they have it because of Voldemort.
"Gossip is something we will not be focusing on.", Voldemort speaks and Lucius nods, ending the subject there.
X X X
"His family seems awful.", Evelyn speaks, pouring water into her glass and sitting down beside me.
"Narcissa and Bellatrix are first cousins to Sirius.", I inform her and she frowns, "Sirius Black? Harry's godfather?"
I nod.
"How the hell did THAT happen?"
"Well, Narcissa married Lucius who was promised great power in the world that the Dark Lord was trying to build so in a way he dragged her in, and Bellatrix was madly in love with the Dark Lord, or Tom back in the days. She still is.", I explain.
"Do you have a picture of him?", she asks and I stand up, pulling Hogwarts yearbook from my bookshelf.
I open it and search for his picture.
"Here.", I say, turning the yearbook towards her.
She makes a surprised face, "Okay.", and I raise my eyebrow.
She looks at me, "Well, he's handsome."
"Was.", I say.
"What happened to him?"
"To simplify it, his appearance matches his soul."
"That bad?", she asks.
"You wouldn't believe it even if you saw it.", I say.
She smiles, "Well, I'm glad you didn't loose your looks."
"Sometimes I wonder if your vision is correct.", I comment, turning the yearbook towards me and looking at my picture.
"Oh come on, you're handsome."
"I am nothing compared to Steve.", I say, fixing my eyes on her face.
I never mentioned him, even if we both know what I saw that day.
Her smile fades a little, "Steve and I where never together."
"I never said that you where. I saw the way you where looking at him."
"Okay fine, I did have a little crush but that's all.", she tells.
"Apparently, so did he.", I point out.
"Steve loves Peggy. Always have and always will."
I raise my eyebrows, "Unreturned love?"
"Peggy is ninety years old.", she informs me and I frown, "What?"
"Steve and Peggy met during World War two, trough S.H.I.E.L.D.S. Project Rebirth. Basically, they wanted to make a so called Super Soldier to fight in the war, and they did. Steve. But, during his mission, his plane crashed into the Arctic. He spend the next sixty-seven years trapped in ice until S.H.I.E.L.D. found and revived him.", she explains.
"That makes a little more sense.", I say.
"Steve carries some love for me but I could never replace Peggy. Not that I wanted to, actually.", she informs me.
"I understand.", I say, seeing no point in digging deeper.
"How come Sirius didn't join Voldemort?", she asks.
"Sirius was friends with Potter, Lupin and Pettigrew, who then betrayed Potter and Lily, revealing to the Dark Lord their hiding place. He didn't share Tom's believes, even when he's a pureblood.", I explain.
"Being betrayed by a friend. Horrible. Why did he do that?", she asks.
"His blind admiration for James in time turned into hate. James was handsome, popular, admired and Peter was ugly and stupid.", I say.
"Jealousy. Is that why you hated James?"
"He was a bully. I hated him way before Lily fell in love with him.", I say, taking a sip of water.
She just nods but doesn't say anything.
Being fed up with this conversation, I switch the subject, "How was your day with Loki?"
"Well, we talked about my parents. More history lessons, let's say.", she speaks and I realize that this is the first time she used parents to describe Ivar and Seena.
I decide not to mention my observation.
"Is it interesting?", I ask.
"Actually, it is. Weird in a way, but interesting.", she explains.
"When will you start working with the sword?"
She sighs, "Tomorrow."
"Nervous?", I ask.
"A little. It's weird because as much as he hates me, he has big expectations of me."
"Maybe he doesn't hate you.", I say and she snorts, "Oh believe me, he does."
"He saved you twice.", I remind her.
"Not because he wanted to but because he had too. He may hate me but for sure LOVES himself.", she comments, rolling her eyes, "And he will do anything to gain his freedom back. Even put the good guy mask on."
In that moment I remember something.
"You're seeing your brother soon, right?", I ask and she nods, "Tomorrow afternoon."
"Nervous?", I ask again and she smiles, "A little."
I straighten up and take her hand into mine, "Everything will be alright."
"I know."
"Did you find your owl?", I ask.
"She came back, yes. I even picked a name for her. Maria.", she says.
"Maria?", I ask surprised.
It's not a common name for an owl.
"My mother. Adoptive mother. She really liked owls, and the name suits her, in a way.", she explains.
In that moment we hear a knock on my door, followed Minerva's voice, "Severus, are you in there?"
We stand up and Evie hides in the bathroom. Minerva knows about us but just in case someone is with her.
I open the door and see the old woman standing on her own.
"You can come out.", I say and look at Minerva, "Did something happen?"
She nods, "Someone broke into your storeroom.", she informs me and my blood boils immediately.
X X X
"What did they take?", Evie asks as I'm estimating the damage.
"Fluxweed, shredded boomslang skin, knotgrass, powdered bicorn horn, leeches, lacewing flies.", I say.
"Ingredients for polyjuice potion?", she asks.
"Yes.", I say.
"This is not the first time those ingredients went missing, if I recall.", Minerva comments.
"You think a student is stealing them?", Evie asks and I turn around, looking at the two ladies, "Potter."
"Now Severus, those are serious accusations.", Minerva comments.
"And it wouldn't be his first time. Those tree are up to something. Again.", I say.
"Without proof, I cannot help you.", Minerva tells me.
Why is everyone protecting that boy?