GREED
Once outside, She pulled the parchment out of her pocket and read the scratchy script sent to her by Snape : 782 Crevat Dr. Sark, England. 8PM.
With that she was whisked away and landed on a small island off the coast of England. She stood at the top of the hill and looked around at the night sky around her. She felt like she was the only person on this island so she pulled her wand out of her sleeve and looked around.
She noticed a slight offset in the air around her and saw the moonlight reflect off a clear surface. She tapped it and recognized it was a ward and once she stepped past she was met with a manor home.
It was beautiful if a bit run down. The shrubbery around the perimeter was overgrown, vines crawling up the side but the gravel path had been cleared leading up to the door. The house was lit up in various parts with shadows dancing behind shades but it was eerily silent outside, the only sound was her shoes crunching against the gravel.
A small elf opened the door and welcomed her with a bow.
She whispered a ‘thank you’ before heading in, following the sound of chatter and laughter.
She walked into a moderately sized reception hall. There were elves rushing between people, carrying trays of hors d'oeuvres or sparkling champagne. There were some familiar faces while others were completely unknown to her.
The dark Lord had not yet made his appearance and for that she was grateful. She met eyes with Regulus and quickly looked away, the embarrassment from the last time she saw him was impossible to forget, the tips of her ears burned and she snatched up a glass of champagne just for something to do.
She saw Snape in the corner and made a beeline to him.
“You clean up nice” she greeted but to be honest, his robes looked the same as they always do- black and loose.
Snape returned kindly, “As do you.”
“So is there a reason for this ‘party’ tonight?” She used the term ‘party’ very loosely.
“Consider it an orientation” he commented to which she just nodded.
They spent some time standing companionably, people watching.
Finally Bellatrix skipped over to her, kicking an elf and telling him to bring her another drink on the way.
“Well aren’t you adorable, isn’t she adorable Severus” she jeered, getting in too close for comfort.
“Easy Bellatrix” he droned.
“Bellatrix” she just inclined her head slightly in greeting.
“Do not think if you forget dearie, we have much work to do together” she jeered.
It was true, she’d left Bellatrix’s letter untouched in her desk for ages now. She was aware that Voldemort planned for them to work together but after recent events, she just couldn’t get it together enough to respond.
“It must’ve slipped my mind, next weekend then?” Perhaps she shouldn’t have spoken so soon.
Rodolphus Lestrange then approached and Bellatrix wound her arm through his. They simply nodded to each other, no need for conversation arising.
Then an all too familiar stout man walked over grinning, he clapped Snape on the back rather aggressively and said, “And how are we tonight Snape?”
Snape inches away out of his grip, “Just fine Mulciber.”
He turned dark brown eyes on her and Vera wanted to squirm under the weight of his gaze. Mulciber was an arse at school and she could only imagine he was a bigger one out of it.
“And who do we have here?”
Before she answered he went on, eyes bulging comically, “No don’t tell me, girl Potter?”
She nodded once.
“Are you lost?” he asked, apparently genuinely confused at her presence here, looking around as if he’s shocked that she hasn’t been apprehended yet.
“No. Please excuse me” Vera said in a clipped tone before walking away from the situation entirely.
She saw Evan and Barty had joined Regulus by the wall and just dithered for a bit not knowing what to do and occupying herself by asking an elf what was in the little tray he was holding.
“Hello” came a cool, oil-slicked voice and she knew exactly who it belonged to before looking up.
She turned from the elf and stood at her full height, looking at the man in front of her. He was barely a few inches taller than her. He had ashy blond hair and dark hazel eyes that were just too close together. His nose was thin and long and his lips were much the same.
“I remember you, my apologies for how we met, I was just entranced with your beauty” he said in a gritty voice with a harsh vocal fry that made her cringe with each word.
He stuck a hand out then, “Travers.”
She just froze then. Staring at him and replaying the moment she had first heard him in her head. The way he looked at her like she was a fresh meal and he was a rabid animal, practically drooling at the sight of her.
He then took initiative by grabbing a hold of her hand and pressing an uncomfortably wet kiss atop it. His hands were cool and clammy and she wondered how it was possible for one person to be every type of gross.
Suddenly, Evan appeared at her side.
“Travers, always a pleasure” he said, tipping his head down once.
“Rosier” he frowned, looking put-out at the interruption.
“Great seeing you but I fear others wish to speak to our newest guest,” he frowned, taking her hand in his own and guided her away.
She was thankful for the interruption by a friendly face but became worried at who the ‘others’ are.
He guided them to where Regulus and Barty stood and she figured he was the ‘other.’
“Hello,” she said, not knowing what level of formality she should be at right now.
“Potter!” Barty smiled without a care in the world. He had a dazzling smile that complimented his features. His messy chocolate brown hair fell just atop his earth colored eyes. He was lithe and his robes fit him well, filling out well from their school days when he was just lanky.
“Grouch,” she said, using their incredibly childish nickname they had all come up with for him.
“Oh come on we’re all on the same side here” he said, sticking a hand out, “Truce?”
She eyed his hand and then looked up at him. He was very smiley in a way she had never seen before. Regulus looked how he always did if not a bit strained, like something had grated him. She eyed Evan and saw his attention was wholly on Barty, seeming more relaxed in his presence.
She stuck a hand out then, “Truce.”
He whooped slightly loudly and she found herself smiling back in his presence, hiding it behind a sip from her flute.
“Barty has had a bit too much to drink” Evan said sheepishly as if ashamed.
“I don’t blame him,” she said, finishing off her own and grabbing another drink for emphasis.
She looked at Regulus then, waiting for him to say anything but he remained silent though paying attention to the conversation nonetheless.
“Will Pandora be arriving?” she asked slightly hopefully.
“No, she’s not involved in any of this stuff, bless her” Barty answered.
“Oh I figured…”
“Because she hangs out with a bunch of snakes like us?”
She paused and they seized the moment, Evan answering now,
“Regulus actually met her first at Hogwarts, Arithmancy partners or something in fifth year, he finally deigned to introduce her to us after a stern talking to.”
Regulus huffed a laugh then, “Yeah because you’d scare her away.”
“Are you serious? The first time we met she said I had wrackspurts in my ear and that Evan should check his shoe for wimmples.”
“And did you?” she asked lightly.
“Maybe” he said.
“And Dorcas?”
“No way, just because she was Slytherin doesn’t mean she’s a death eater or anything. Someone has got to let go of her prejudices, I mean you’re here are you not” Barty pointed out and Vera just thinned her lips and nodded.
Yes, she was here, as an equal but a death eater nonetheless. It was hard to separate her long held stereotypes when she was clearly going against them, outwardly at least.
It was odd to think that she was here with the rest of them when their time at school was full of spewing hate at each other, hexes and jinxes were thrown like confetti in the halls. She still had a scar along her ankle from when Snape threw a magical rope at her leg and pulled, causing her to trip and drop all the contents of her bag on the floor.
The sight of Snape gathering up his nose and running down the hall after Sirius cast a growing charm on it was payment enough.
All conversation in the room stopped however when the main doors opened and a low hissing sound filled the room. A large snake slithered in through the doorway and people on both sides allowed it a wide berth as it zigzagged across the floor. Its body was as wide as it was long and its scales glinted like armor under the glowing lights. She instantly recognized the snake from others’ stories: Nagini.
Just behind was Voldemort. He walked in with his usual grace, head held high- a man who knew was above everyone else in the room in every conceivable way. Others watched him in awe while he didn’t spare anyone a glance, simply heading up to the chair in the back of the room.
No, not a chair but a throne on a slightly raised dais. Nagini slithered up the steps up to the throne and began to coil around one of the legs until its head rested on the armchair.
Voldemort sat atop the dais and everyone in the room bowed their heads so Vera did the same.
With a smile and wave of the hand, the quartet tucked behind a wall began playing soft tunes again and conversation began though many rushed to where the dark Lord sat, eager for him to acknowledge their existence.
Snape came up to her then, “We have to go.” She nodded and excused herself.
“My lord,” Snape bowed and Vera followed. Her neck really hurt after all this bowing.
“Severus,” he said serenely.
Vera mimicked him.
“Vera. How are you this evening?” he asked, smiling though it wasn’t genuine in the slightest, if anything a bit gleeful.
“I am well my lord, thank you.”
“Do you know why we are all gathered here tonight?”
“No my Lord.”
“For you.”
She looked up and into his eyes then. His pupils were contracted and his eyes seemed redder than ever, as if irritated. He appeared even more gaunt than usual and almost twin to Nagini who currently rested under his hand.
“Well I was made aware of the incident a few days ago. Greyback was always very enthusiastic. I feel this would be a good night for everyone to get reacquainted…remember the cause.”
“It was unfortunate but I am glad for the chance to meet other like-minded individuals, it gives me hope for the future of the wizarding world” she choked, smiling as if the edges of her mouth were being pulled up by invisible strings.
“Yes, we are certainly on the path for success. There are large plans afoot Miss Potter” he pronounced with a sense of foreboding.
“A moment if you will” he pointedly remarked at Vera and she slipped away with a nod, leaving the two to talk.
She strode off into a corner like she was a child who just got scolded by her parents and nursed her drink. She didn’t drink anymore and just used her wand that was hidden up her sleeve to alter the drink level in her glass, draining and refilling it.
A woman approached her then.
“Eudora Zabini” she put out one gloved hand. She was a beautiful woman, her dark skin glistened under the candlelight and her hair flowed in locs with small clasps adorning each piece that shined as she moved her head.
“Vera Potter” she smiled and shook her hand.
She smirked, “You look terrified”
Vera just huffed a laugh, “Just overwhelmed, this is my first time at…one of these.”
“Clearly. You get used to them though.”
“You don’t seem particularly happy to be here” she asked confused. Instead of looking around in awe or rushing to the dark Lord like the others she just seemed bored.
“I’m not but my husband is so I come along” she shrugged.
“Who is your husband?”
“The owner of this house. Philip Defront…for now at least'' she huffed lightly, twirling her straw in her drink.
“Your house is lovely,” she complimented.
“It’s dated,” she said, looking around as if seeing the age in every crack.
“You’re honest.”
“Why be anything but.”
“Zabini” Snape said as he came back.
“Snape. Just keeping your girlfriend here company” she smiled, walking away.
“So?”
“What?”
“What’d you talk about?”
“Business.”
“Oh I’m not privy to that am I?” She looked down at Snape’s covered arm and he tracked the movement.
“You’ll find out soon enough” he said through clenched teeth and she had the sense to back down. He was clearly upset about something and though she itched to know what it was, she let it go.
After another incredibly boring hour of standing around and smiling, the dark Lord stood up, spreading his arms wide, absolutely beaming about something and she didn’t know whether the face she made now or his resting one was more terrifying.
“Valued guests. Though I had initially gathered you all here so that you may meet each other and remember our divine purpose. I have just received news of success.”
Vera froze from her spot by Regulus, Evan, and Barty- they were always together. She glanced at each of them quickly and their expressions were relatively neutral, maybe only slightly weary at what he could possibly boast about now.
“Multiple, so called safehouses, have been found and traitors within have been apprehended and tried for their most egregious crimes. They have paid for their crimes with their lives. May we all celebrate in this shared success” he pronounced with the same frenzy and greed as a dictator would.
Vera’s head was spinning now. Which safe houses? Who was apprehended? Who died?
She felt panicky and was burning hot while feeling ice course through her veins. Everyone around her was cheering but the sound faded and distorted in her ears. She could barely keep herself aloft at the thought.
She felt a hand around her elbow and it barely grounded her. She needed to do something, go somewhere but she couldn’t without raising suspicion. She forced herself to raise her lips in a smile to any she made eye contact with but she continued panicking.
She allowed herself to be dragged away by the elbow and she ended up being taken down a corridor off the main hall.
“You need to calm down,” Regulus said, putting one hand on either side of her face, boring into her eyes.
“I just- I-” she couldn’t scramble for an answer as to why she cared so much. She should be cheering with the rest of them. At the same time however, Regulus didn’t appear pleased in the slightest.
“I know” was all he said before pulling her in for a hug.
He wrapped his arms around her tightly and it helped soothe her panic. She read about this in her healing books- how the pressure from tight hugs was supposed to help her somehow.
She embraced him with equal fervor, bunching her hand up in his robes. She inhaled the scent of pinewood and bergamot against his firm chest and she slowly felt her own breathing slow but only slightly.
When she pulled back, he didn’t let go, only held her eyes for a moment longer. As they stood there, basking in the moonlight that streaked in through the glass paneled windows, she felt the moment stretch for eternity while slowly gaining tension.
Neither of them wanted to break the moment first but Regulus did when he raised a slow, tentative hand up to her neck, brushing his thumb against the scar that traced down her neck in a vertical line.
She felt her pulse thrumming against his thumb and her breathing hitched as they slowly inched closer, the air shifting slowly.
Their lips were a hairsbreadth apart when a loud cracking noise sounded and it shook them out of their stupor.
They both pulled away immediately and Vera felt her face burn up as she thought about what almost happened and felt a mix of shame and excitement at the prospect.
People began filtering out of the main doors and the loud crack must have been Voldemort departing. They glanced at each other only briefly before Vera knew she had to leave as well and find out what the hell happened.
Regulus must have read her mind because he followed her quickly.
Up ahead, Evan and Barty were walking close to each other, bumping shoulders, and upon closer inspection, she saw that their fingers were loosely intertwined with each other. Evan was laughing at something Barty had said and he looked away, shaking his head. They complimented each other well though Vera couldn’t spend too much time doting.
“Hows about we all get out of here?” Barty said mischievously after finding them behind him
“It’s getting quite late, I think I should just head back” she said, feigning fatigue.
They walked and spoke and right when they crossed the wards, she shot them each a look, lingering on Regulus’ the longest and went back home preparing for the worst.