Chekhov
“I was wondering how long it would take you.”
A voice Severus had not heard in years melted out of the gloom. He recalled it from his early years at Hogwarts and later visits to the Malfoy estate.
“It’s nice to see you, Severus.”
“Narcissa.” Severus’ voice was clipped in his ears, tight. The cage had closed around him. How could he have been so stupid, rushing off into danger like your regular, every day Gryffindor. He had gone looking for alternative libraries expressly because he knew that Hogwarts, the Ministry, and the pureblood families controlled and held most of the wizarding world’s information — at least as far as Western Europe was concerned.
And yet there he was - outside a pureblood manor.
“Everyone’s been wondering where you ran off to.”
He grit his teeth. Had Pope known the secret library attached to Carrickfergus was also attached to the Malfoy manor? How could he not?
“Tea?”
Severus stiffened further, impossibly. An invitation to tea with Narcissa was never just tea. Nonetheless, he had no choice but to acquiesce. There was certainly no running, no matter how he longed to return to Harry’s side. “That sounds lovely.”
Narcissa turned around, making no indication for him to follow her, but he knew to anyway. To have signaled for him would have been beneath her. A woman of such grace and power projected her desires out and into others, they followed her lead without direct word or gesture. She had been intimidating at Hogwarts, and more so in her adulthood. Now she was terrifying.
He followed dutifully behind her into the mansion, the grounds passing them by. Neither of them commented on the lovely hedges, or the peacocks, or the glittering stones of the footpaths, or the manor’s splendid architectural design. It was much the same as they came into the home, if such a palace could be named as much. No words passed between them regarding the decor, but Narcissa did speak.
“Lucius is away on business. I’m sure you understand.”
“Of course,” he said, as if he would have had a reason to be offended that the man of the house, the lord of the manor, was not there to personally greet him. “I understand.”
They came to a sunroom that faced an expansive garden and led out to a patio that wasn’t big enough for many guests, but gave a sense of deep intimacy. Clearly purposely designed for quiet conversations.
Severus felt a wave of silencing charms wash over him as he entered and he spied, on an ornate round table, a tea service.
“I take tea here daily,” Narcissa said, “I find it suitable.”
“As do I.” Of course a lady such as her would not ask if he found it suitable, merely express her own admiration for the space. Severus knew well to play along. He sat down in the seat across from where she stood, indicated by her location alone as to where he was expected to place himself.
She poured the tea herself. No elf. No witnesses. And of course, of course she had tea here, everyday, alone, no assistance, always, always, always, just in case - just in case she needed to speak to someone privately without rousing any suspicion, without so much as a hair out of place. She had her alibi set in stone days, weeks, years before it was needed because the lady of the house loved to take tea privately, each day like clockwork.
She remembered how Severus took his tea.
“Have you been well?” She asked, setting his saucer and cup down on the table in front of him, “Sandwich?”
“Cucumber,” he said and took a bite when it was given to him. He knew better than to refuse. He knew Narcissa would not poison him. If she wished to kill him here and now she wouldn’t have bothered bringing him into the manor. And besides, Narcissa had never needed overt violence. “I am well. You?”
“Perfectly well. Draco is growing nicely,” she said and Severus felt a twist in his gut. He’d hardly thought of Draco at all — the little pureblooded bundle of blond haired joy, the child Lucius had named him godfather to primarily because he didn’t have any other strong candidates in mind and Severus was a Death Eater too, just as Lucius was, and his father had been, and Draco would be. Or would have been provided the Dark Lord hadn’t dropped off the face of the earth.
Narcissa continued, nonchalant but knowing what she was doing as she poured her own tea and selected a bright, orange peel and lemon biscuit, “He could use a visit from his godfather every now and then. He’s a bit shy, but he’s already got an eye for potions. You’d get on well.”
“Yes, I’m sure.”
“Of course, I think the same thing about Sirius and his godchild, what was his name again?”
Severus took a sip of his tea, “I don't believe I remember.”
It was an outright lie and Narcissa knew it. They both knew it.
“I know he never visits the boy, is all. He’s never been the most responsible, mind, but it isn’t quite proper, not visiting; and after I got him off from Azkaban you’d think the man would appreciate the people in his life more.”
“I read about that in the Prophet.”
She stirred a sugar cube into her tea, small spoon clinking the china briefly, “They insisted Lucius was upset about it, but he knew what he got marrying a Black. I don’t much care about political leanings, not when it comes to family.”
Severus’ fingers tightened around the handle of his cup. Politics. Pope had called the Wizarding War politics.
Narcissa knew Pope. She was telling him she did without outright saying she did, she had said she wondered his long it would take Severus to figure “it” out and now she used a phrase so akin to Pope’s own, it couldn’t be a coincidence.
“He went to Ireland recently,” Narcissa said, taking a sip from her drink that managed to be both deep and delicate, “Sirius.”
“Oh? How did he enjoy it?” Severus’ body was a live wire. Narcissa was skirting subjects he’d rather not delve into. His skin itched. He wanted to leave, to get back to Harry.
“I’m afraid I cannot tell you,” Narcissa hummed, glancing up at him, lashes framing her sharp eyes, “He came back quite mad, you know.”
Everything.
Harry said he had taken everything.
Severus had wondered what he meant by that, what he could possibly capture within the word, within the intention, of everything.
He said nothing. How could he? What was one meant to say? ‘Oh that’s terrible!’? ‘What a horrible thing! How did this happen?’?
It would be a farce, and not the kind he and Narcissa were playing along with. No, for him to answer now would constitute a performance so egregious, it would break their play pretend bubble of etiquette.
“He’s here, you know. I insisted of course, as his only free, living relative beyond Andromeda.”
Severus gave a steady nod, expression almost sage, deeply understanding. It was a motion that said, ‘Ah yes, the importance of caring for your family when they experience hardships’.
“Mr. Lupin, you remember him, was quite upset, as were a few other acquaintances of his. Legally speaking however, I am the most viable next of kin and Lucius and I are not short on rooms or ability to care for him.”
Gods… what had Harry done to him? Had he reduced him down to a vegetable-like state?
Narcissa set her cup down and moved her attention briefly towards her sandwich. Severus took the lull in the conversation to do the same, eating quietly — waiting for when Narcissa would drop the other shoe so to speak.
She did so after a wide stretch of time, the air oppressively heavy. Severus felt that at any moment Lucius or some other Death Eater would barge in and attack him. It was very possible.
“Severus,” she started, catching his gaze, holding it commandingly, “I will not ask what you did that night — your arm is evidence enough, but I know you know what happened to Sirius.”
It wasn’t even worth denying, doing so would make him look like nothing but a coward.
“I know he was hunting down the Potter boy. He’s not subtle. It was all he wanted when he left Azkaban and then one day, he returns from his hunt, mad, memories tossed to the wind.” Her tea cup was finished. She set it aside and folded her arms in front of her. “I only know one wizard with such skill in the mental arts to be able to take as much as Sirius lost.”
Her gaze narrowed to a glare.
“I’ll be perfectly blunt. You want access to the library, don’t deny it.”
“I do,” Severus said. She left no room for him to hide his cards, she had him trapped, physically and metaphorically. How she knew Pope he did not know, but it hardly mattered. Narcissa knew him and she was aware that Severus knew that. They did not have to elaborate or disclose extra information. This was a bare bones negotiation and Severus had nothing of true substance to leverage. His need to access the library was far too great, bargaining would only hurt him.
“Fix Sirius and you’ll have it.”
Severus grit his teeth, hoping the tension didn’t show too much in his jaw, but he knew it did and he knew Narcissa was more than capable of picking up on his body language.
He couldn’t be sure that he could help Sirius.
He had no idea what Harry had done. Children’s magic was akin to wild magic, it didn’t have spells or even clear patterns. Harry might have seared Sirius’ neurons to dust rather than actually take his memories him for all Severus knew. The damage could very well be irreparable.
And then what.
Surely Narcissa would not allow him access to the library if he failed. In fact she might not let him into the hidden library at all after all she had simply said ‘library’.
“The hidden library, the one that intersected briefly with Carrickfergus?” He asked, wanting the terms as clear as possible.
Narcissa took no offense, in fact she showed no emotion at all. Rather, she picked up another sandwich. It was the closest Severus would get to her saying, ‘fair enough’. “Of course.”
Severus frowned, that still felt too vague to him.
“I fix Sirius and you let me into the hidden library Pope allowed me access to.”
“You fix Sirius of his madness,” Narcissa said, “Fix can mean a lot of things, especially since he can become a dog.”
Had this been any other situation Severus might have chuckled at the word play and its resulting image. Yes he could imagine it would be satisfactory to remove that deranged mutt’s balls.
“I cure Sirius of his madness then.”
“Cure Sirius of his madness and I will allow you access to the hidden library — with time enough to find what you’re looking for.”
Did Narcissa know what he was looking for?
He reached his hand out and Narcissa took it, shaking once decidedly. It felt like signing a contract with the devil, some Faustian deal and perhaps it was.
“I’ll need to return to my place to prepare,” Severus said, standing as their hands let go, “I’ll return in a few days time.”
“Nonsense,” Narcissa said, “Your room is already prepared and Lucius would love a visit. And of course you’ve yet to meet Draco.”
Severus stiffened. Was she still going to trap him here after they had agreed? Did she truly consider him a flight risk?
“I couldn’t impose.” He said and knew damn well it was a weak defense, but he couldn’t just leave Harry alone. He had promised to return to him. And beyond that there was one huge problem — he was seven. The boy couldn’t take care of himself.
“Severus, you’re family,” Narcissa hummed, her smile too kind. “There’ll be a room for your boy too. Right next to yours of course. Draco will love the company.
Your boy.
Narcissa knew about Harry.
Of course she did. Of course she did — he was a fucking idiot. Pope had seen Harry. He hadn’t seen, seen him - he’d been disguised and using a fake name, Adam. Yet Narcissa had deduced that it was he who was looking for the library, not some other wizard so who knew the depths of her knowledge. Did she know or suspect that the boy Severus had brought with him to Carrickfergus was the same boy Sirius had gone searching for or did she assume Sirius had found him accidentally and Severus had wiped his memory out of self defense, or perhaps to settle old grudges?
“Bit of a surprise that, but it has been a few years,” Narcissa added, “congratulations are in order. What’s his name?”
Severus could not take such words as evidence of how much Narcissa knew. He wasn’t an idiot. She could easily be lying, feigning curiosity.
“Adam.” He answered.
“The first man — a strong name. Excellent.”
Severus swallowed thickly, “He’s got familiars. A snake and a cat.”
“You spoil him,” Narcissa smiled, “I always knew you’d be the type to. You had a soft streak at Hogwarts. Hoping the snake will sway him to Slytherin?”
“He’d be a Slytherin without it.”
Narcissa laughed at that and placed her hand on his shoulder, like they were still familiar enough for the gesture. Severus knew it was a trap.
“Draco has a crup, naturally, well behaved, it won’t bother the cat.”
Severus gave a stiff nod.
“Let’s get your things then.”
She was coming to his house, to Last Landing, and of course she was. She had him in her clutches and wouldn’t let him out of sight for even a moment.
“It is heavily warded.”
“As all good wizarding homes are.”
Infuriating. Absolutely infuriating. She was telling him to simply key her in, to just let her into his main hiding place, his safe haven, his last landing— his final defense. She was telling him to let her in like it was nothing, like it demanded little trust and was easy as breathing as if he hadn’t spent years tampering with the spells, adding layers of complexity.
And yet, even in such a predicament, an idea came to him.
“Can I apparate with you from here directly?”
“We’ll have to go to the edge of the property.”
Damn her!
He’d stupidly hoped she would perform a spell in front of him, one to soften the manor’s wards, or perhaps willed them out at the start of the apparition herself. Even if she had performed the magic non-verbally he would have gotten the slightest feel for the wards, how they treated her. Wards were powerful magic, strong enough to be felt when moved through, particularly when apparating with a keyed in individual. If he could have learned even a touch of information about them it would have been useful, if barely, the first miniscule piece in a large puzzle.
As it was he suspected that Narcissa was thinking much the same and not only about her own home. She planned to glean information about the wards Severus had constructed around Last Landing as they apparated through them.
“Of course,” he said.
“I apologize for the inconvenience.”
Apologize his arse.
“It’s no trouble.”
They walked towards the manor’s edge much the same way they had walked before, following the same path, adhering to the same silence. Narcissa let them pass through the wards, taking his arm in hers as gesture enough to the magical security system that he could move across the threshold and that told him nothing of use other than the wards were strong, precise, and aware of Narcissa’s basic desires — the same as any wards worth their salt.
As soon as they were clear of the wards Severus apparated them to Last Landing, or rather to a spot nearby.
Severus didn’t have to look at Narcissa to know that she was disappointed, angry too if he were to bet, but she couldn’t say anything. She had given him the same treatment by walking him manually outside her wards. To say anything about how he had responded in kind would be a social faux pas.
“We’re very close,” he explained and then to rub salt in the offense, “I apologize for the inconvenience.”
“It’s no trouble,” she echoed his words as well, clearly resenting the change in the power dynamics however shallow and brief.
They walked for a few minutes. Severus wanted Narcissa to lose track of where they were, he wanted the confusion of the magical forest to work with Last Landing’s inability to be charted.
Finally they came to a spot that to Severus looked like the clearing and the house, but to Narcissa would look like nothing but more and more forest.
Severus looked around, taking stock of his home. It wasn’t on fire, so at least Harry was probably, hopefully, okay. Wus was sunning himself on one of the clearing flat rocks.
“Wus,” he called, “Wus, come here.”
The cat lifted its head and meowed lazily, tail flickering in agitation. It was clear he was asking why Severus would call to him from outside the wards and not simply enter. If Severus had something to say to him then he’d good and well better come up to him and talk, not shout about.
Severus groaned.
“That the cat then?” Narcissa asked. She couldn’t see or hear anything, but she was a witch, deducing what was happening was far from difficult.
“A tom named Wuswus,” Severus said, “or Wus most of the time — or pest!” He raised his voice at the last part.
“Wuswus?”
“Don’t ask,” he grumbled out. She’d laugh if he knew that Harry had not only been unable to pronounce Severus when he was younger, but had chosen to name his familiar after how he butchered Severus’ name.
“Wus!” He said again, using the voice he spoke in when the cat was being naughty.
Finally he sauntered over, stretching and showing his fangs in a wide yawn before padding across the yard. He wore a put upon expression as he came to stand in front of the barrier.
Severus knelt before him, “Can you get Adam?”
He hoped Wus understood that he needed Harry. He had been in the room a few times when Severus was explaining to Harry that he needed to pretend to be called Adam when visiting Carrickfergus.
Wus turned and ran off.
“Sorry about that,” Severus said, “Adam has been learning about wards lately and if you come in without letting him pull you in he’s bound to pout.”
Narcissa seemed to take this in stride, “Draco is the same way after he learns a small spell with his practice wand. He runs about the manor showing everyone over and over, even the elves.” She gave a small click of her tongue, eyes narrowing for a hair’s breadth of a moment, “wards though, at such a young age?”
“He’s quite sharp.”
She gave a noncommittal hum, “Every parent thinks their kid is ‘quite sharp’, love.”
Severus would have to disagree. His father hadn’t thought he was quite sharp and he knew he couldn’t have been the only boy called an idiot during his childhood. Not everyone was as lucky as little lord Draco Malfoy.
A few moments later Harry came running out the boundary, although his pace slowed as he saw Narcissa, he didn’t freeze, but he did clench his hands close to his body, ready to bolt.
“Severus?” He asked, quiet, holding the word almost in his mouth, almost not spoken at all.
“Yes, Adam. I’m back. I promised.” Severus said and the fear in Harry’s eyes was immense. Severus had never brought someone to Last Landing, not even Moira who Harry knew Severus considered trustworthy. “This is a friend of mine, Narcissa. Do you think you can show her how you come in through the wards?”
The truth was Harry was not yet learning about wards. They had been a bit tied up with other things, namely discovering that Harry had been Merlin and he had been Arthur. It was all a touch distracting.
The only time Harry had come in and out through the wards alone had been on his sixth birthday, when Severus had been trapped in the clearing and Harry had somehow left his wards without alerting him and then returned just the same, smooth and easy as if no magic at all had been involved.
Harry stared at him for a long moment, “I drew an owl carrying a toad with a ribbon on its head today.” He said, a secret phrase they had agreed upon for emergency situations. He was checking to make sure Severus was okay and more importantly not under any influence.
“That’s very nice, Adam. Will you show me, Wus, and Snow?” He said in response, the signal that Severus was safe, but that Harry should still be wary. If he had wished to indicate that they were absolutely safe he would have said, ‘Snow and Wus’, flipping the position of the familiars in the sentence order. If he had wished to convey danger, to say Harry should not listen to his requests, he would have said, ‘Toad’s can’t wear ribbons’.
Harry nodded, and then motioned for them to follow with a quiet, “okay, come in.”
As Severus moved forward he felt nothing, no brush of the wards, no hint of information about its strength or layering, no suggestion of its construction or complexity. Harry, as he had seemed to before, brushed the wards aside entirely, dismantled them while still keeping them intact, a contradiction, a breaking of all magical principles.
Narcissa would gain no information as she came through to the clearing. Of that Severus was sure. Beyond this Harry already knew to stay on guard and to expect to be referred to as Adam. They would be able to work together to reveal as little as possible, moving as a team.
“Oh my goodness, he’s adorable,” Narcissa knelt down in front of Harry. If she was concerned about the wards and their lack of information, she didn’t show it, but Severus knew better than to assume she had not noticed. “Hello Adam, I’m Narcissa Malfoy, I’m a friend of your dad.”
Severus winced, he’d have to tell Harry his last name in this situation was Snape. Adam Snape — Severus wasn’t sure if he liked the ring of that, but oh well. No changing it now, it was the alias Harry was used to and if Narcissa would be a part of their lives fairly regularly now then it was far too late to think of something better.
“I’m Adam,” Harry said and Severus breathed a sigh of relief, “I’m seven.”
“Seven! Merlin, you’re so grown up already. Seven is such an important age.”
“Dad told me,” Harry said, following protocol to pretend he was Severus’ son. “My magic will strengthen this year.”
Yes and what a terror that would be. Narcissa had no idea what Harry was capable of. How was Severus meant to keep such power hidden right under her nose, in the halls of her own manor?
“Just so young man and knowing your father you’ll be a very strong wizard indeed.”
Harry smiled at that, though Severus could tell it wasn’t quite genuine. After all, Severus was not in fact his father. In that moment he wanted to reassure Harry and unfortunately he didn’t think much beyond that.
“His mother was a powerful witch as well,” he said, thinking of Lily, wanting Harry to hear and know that his mom had been strong and talented and brilliant and that he had nothing to worry about.
“And just who caught your attention, Severus?” Narcissa asked and he had to fight to keep from wincing. “Is she about?”
Damn him. He hadn’t had much time to think of a backstory.
“She’s not, unfortunately. She died when Adam was very young,” he said.
“Oh dear, I’m sorry to hear that.”
“She was an American potioneer I met on conference,” that was a good lie. Narcissa knew damn near every witch in the country, especially if they were worth their salt. That came with being a socialite pureblood with money and influence to spare. America was a bit out of her sphere of influence though. “Guinevere,” their usual fake name for Harry’s mother, “werewolf attack I’m afraid.”
“They do seem to run rampant in the states,” Narcissa said, “I’m supposing that’s where she was during the war. You’d have been too smart to keep her close.”
He side eyed her but said nothing. Just like with his arm he had no desire to speak of any action that would imply he had doubted the Dark Lord or been disloyal to him in any way. Hiding away one’s family was something that the Dark Lord detested. A loyal follower encouraged their relatives to join, to see the truth of his message, to lend themselves to the cause. That was why Lucius had taken the mark and why Draco would have.
In the Dark Lord’s mind followers bred followers. To deny him such a resource as fresh blood would be to commit a heinous slight.
Luckily Harry cut in, “Dad why is your friend here?”
“We’re going to be visiting her for a while,” he said, “I’m here to pick you, Wus, and Snow up.”
“Won’t we need our things?” Harry asked and Narcissa shook her head. Severus nearly groaned. Of course the woman would allow them no time to gather their things, no time to plan something or slip something of use into their luggage. He had to wonder how many people the woman had taken hostage before.
“Nonsense,” she said, “Everything will be provided, it’s no trouble at all, especially not for family.”
“Family?” Harry asked and then looked worriedly at Severus.
“Yes love, Severus is family to my husband and I. He’s the godfather of my son, Draco — he’s your age, you’ll get to play with him.”
This last part caught Harry’s attention and not even the situation could have stopped his enthusiasm. “Really!?” He looked between Severus and Narcissa. He had not gotten to play with other magical children very much. Moira had a few relatives, but visits to her house were few and far between.
“Yes. You two will get on great, I’m sure of it.” Narcissa said, smiling.
Severus shifted a bit on his feet. It was clear Narcissa was going to use every tactic in the book to get Harry to trust her. He could already picture all the chocolate coins and frogs she would get him, all the toys, and of course there was Draco’s crup and whatever else the two would manage to bribe out of her.
He would have to constantly remind Harry to be on guard.
“Do you know where Snow is?” Severus asked, trying to pull Harry’s attention back.
“Oh!” Harry dug around in his shirt pocket and pulled out a very disgruntled looking Snow. She coiled around his hand and hissed angrily at being woke up. Harry laughed at whatever it was she had said. “Here she is!”
“You shrunk her?” Severus asked, used to a much larger snake. Snow had never been so small, not even when Harry had first found her.
Harry pet her gently, careful not to talk to her. As Severus had told him numerous times, many witches and wizards did not like parseltongue. “Yes she was very sleepy.”
Narcissa laughed, “She’ll return to her normal size soon enough,” she said as if Severus didn’t know that, “We’d better both be prepared for more accidental magic this coming year, Severus — seven is nothing to scoff at.”
Severus was not looking forward to it.
With Harry’s familiars gathered they left the clearing, walking back into the forest, Harry moving the wards in the way he had before, something Severus was grateful for.
Narcissa took both their arms and apparated them to the manor grounds and while dread filled Severus’ stomach at the sight of what was surely to be a gilded cage, Harry’s eyes went wide and with a whoop of laughter he yelled, “Look a castle!”
Severus could only hope that this castle would provide more answers than Carrickfergus despite the both of them being prisoners, despite Black being present, most likely beyond any help that Severus could provide, and despite Harry’s increasing power - now a harder secret than ever to keep.