"Father," Narcissa began suddenly, "is there something special about your return this time?"
Her blue eyes fixed on Severus Snape, and their gaze stirred a faint unease within him. Snape inwardly braced himself—Narcissa was the linchpin of the Malfoy family, never one to be easily deceived.
"The Dark Lord's task," he replied vaguely, hoping the answer was ambiguous yet intimidating enough. He noticed Lucius sit up straighter, a flicker of doubt passing through his eyes.
Narcissa clasped Lucius's hand once more, exchanging a glance with him.
"Of course, Father," she said respectfully. "Is there anything we can do to serve him?"
"I need to inspect the item the Dark Lord entrusted to us," Snape said cautiously, preparing himself for any sudden moves. "I must take it secretly to Hogwarts."
Lucius's brow furrowed slightly, but Narcissa's expression remained as calm as a still lake.
"Of course," she said, rising gracefully. "I'll fetch it for you now."
A strange sensation crept over Snape, a nagging feeling that something was amiss. He couldn't pinpoint where he'd faltered; his impersonation of Abraxas Malfoy—his mannerisms, his tone—had been flawless. Unless—
Narcissa was nearing the study door, her hand a mere second from grasping the handle.
Her movement struck a sensitive nerve in Snape, though he couldn't explain why. But he knew he'd made a mistake.
In the instant her fingers brushed the handle, Snape whipped out his wand, casting two silent Petrificus Totalus spells that struck Narcissa and Lucius.
Narcissa froze mid-motion, while Lucius shot up from his chair with a startled thud, his face etched with shock.
Before Narcissa's rigid body could hit the floor, Snape darted forward to catch her, gently lowering her to the ground. He cast a Levicorpus spell on Lucius, suspending him in midair just before he could collapse.
Narcissa's eyes alone moved, gazing calmly at Snape.
"Where did I go wrong?" Snape asked, then realized she couldn't respond. "Oh, right, you can't speak at the moment."
He waved his wand, casting Muffliato on the study's door, windows, and walls, ensuring their conversation would remain unheard by anyone—or any portrait. He then retrieved Narcissa's and Lucius's wands from their robes, tucking them into his own.
"Next," Snape said coldly, "I'll lift the Petrificus Totalus charms. If you're willing to gamble with your lives or each other's, I won't hesitate to send you to meet Merlin. Understood?"
He magically moved Narcissa to Lucius's side and looked into their eyes. "If you understand, move your eyes up and down."
Lucius complied immediately; Narcissa hesitated briefly before doing the same.
"Good," Snape said, stepping to the door and releasing the binding spells.
Two flashes of red light, and their bodies regained freedom. Narcissa sat up, striving to maintain her dignity, while Lucius appeared visibly shaken.
"Who are you?" Lucius's voice trembled.
"I'm your dear father, Lucius," Snape said kindly, pointing his wand at them. "Sit."
They obediently returned to their chairs, making no unnecessary movements.
With a flick of Snape's wand, ropes materialized, binding them tightly to their seats. The scene was bizarre—Abraxas Malfoy tying up his own son and daughter-in-law in their own study.
"Now," Snape said, pulling a chair to face them and smiling faintly, "tell me, Narcissa, how did you spot my flaw?"
Narcissa hesitated before deciding to speak plainly. "Abraxas Malfoy is not a Death Eater."
Snape's pupils contracted slightly. He realized his arrogant mistake—assuming that because Lucius was a Death Eater, his father would naturally be one too.
But Narcissa was right. For an old family like the Malfoys, it made sense not to have all members join Tom Riddle's cause. If Lucius faced trial, Abraxas could still maneuver on his behalf.
"Clever," Snape said softly, unable to suppress his admiration for her sharpness.
To his surprise, Narcissa turned to Lucius. "What exactly is this item the Dark Lord entrusted to you?"
"I…" Lucius hesitated, looking conflicted. "I'm not sure if I should—"
"Lucius," Narcissa's voice sharpened, "our lives are at stake. Answer the question."
Lucius swallowed hard, stammering, "It's… a notebook, I think."
"What is it, exactly?" Narcissa pressed. "Is it important?"
"The Dark Lord only told me it's enchanted with clever magic," Lucius replied uncertainly. "He said to give it to a Hogwarts student when instructed. It's supposed to open some chamber at the school. It didn't seem… terribly important."
"Sir," Narcissa turned to Snape, "you've gone to great lengths to come here. Is it the notebook you're after?"
"Indeed," Snape nodded. "That's precisely why I'm here."
"We can give it to you," Narcissa said, her voice now calm, almost businesslike. "We could even offer you a substantial sum of money, provided you don't harm us."
"But it belongs to the Dark Lord," Lucius protested. "We can't—"
"Be quiet, Lucius," Narcissa snapped, cutting him off. She turned back to Snape. "Sir, I assume you're using Polyjuice Potion to impersonate our father, correct?"
Snape nodded in acknowledgment.
"Then," Narcissa continued, her voice growing steadier, "since you've gone to such trouble to visit, that notebook must be far more important than Lucius believes."
"In that case, letting us live and continue as normal would be in your best interest," she said, pausing for effect. "If something happens to us, the Dark Lord will surely check on the notebook. I imagine you'd rather he didn't find out."
Snape had to admit her reasoning was sound.
"The Malfoy family would be lost without you, Narcissa," he said. "I agree, it's better for me if you remain alive. But—" he glanced at Lucius's cowering demeanor and shook his head, "how can I trust you won't inform the Dark Lord afterward?"
"An Obliviate could work…" Narcissa murmured, then reconsidered. "But the Dark Lord is exceptionally skilled at Legilimency. If he notices Lucius acting dazed, he might probe his memories…"
She fell silent, clearly weighing how to protect both herself and her husband.
Snape had no real intention of taking their lives. If necessary, he thought, an Obliviate would be better than nothing.
Then it struck him—he didn't need to treat Narcissa as an enemy. She was never a devoted servant of the Dark Lord.
If he could make her understand the notebook's significance to Voldemort, her intelligence would ensure she'd never report its loss. That would spell disaster for the Malfoys. He wouldn't reveal that Voldemort had multiple Horcruxes, but whether she guessed it was her own matter.
"Do you know Occlumency?" Snape asked.
"We both do," Narcissa replied, a spark of hope in her eyes. "Quite proficiently. It's… a necessary skill under the Dark Lord."
"Then I'll spare your lives, but I need to speak with you alone," Snape said, addressing Narcissa. "If I let your husband fetch the notebook, can you ensure he keeps this quiet afterward?"
"Narcissa," Lucius said, sounding worried, "I don't think—"
"I can," Narcissa said firmly, turning to her husband. "Lucius, do as he says. Get the notebook. Don't alert anyone. Our lives depend on your cooperation."
Lucius opened his mouth to argue but, under Narcissa's resolute gaze, nodded reluctantly.
"Good," Snape said. "That's what I wanted to hear. If you value your wife's life, Mr. Malfoy, don't do anything foolish."
Snape released Lucius's ropes. Lucius took a few deep breaths, glanced at Narcissa, who nodded firmly, and left the study, closing the door softly behind him.
Now, only Snape and Narcissa, still bound to her chair, remained in the room.
"Narcissa," Snape said gently, looking at her, "you've probably guessed who I am, haven't you?"
"I don't know," Narcissa said, shaking her head. "And I don't want to."
"I've always thought you were smarter than the entire Malfoy family combined," Snape said. "Now, say my name."
Narcissa was silent for a moment, then sighed softly. "It could only be you, Severus. It's been a long time."
"Indeed," Snape said, the corner of his mouth twitching upward. "It's been a while, Narcissa. I trust dealing with someone as clever as you will be… refreshing."
"I quite agree," Narcissa said. "We've always been friends, Severus. Rest assured, Lucius and I will keep tonight's events to ourselves."
"Of course, we've always been friends," Snape said, meeting her gaze. "But I need a bit of insurance."
"Listen, my friend, I'm going to tell you something terrible—that notebook is a Horcrux of the Dark Lord. Do you know what a Horcrux is?"
Narcissa's eyes widened in fear, the first intense emotion Snape had seen from her that night.
After a long pause, she nodded. "I know what it is. So what Lucius said was true."
"What did Lucius say?" Snape asked, curious.
"The Dark Lord told him and the others that his goal is to conquer death," Narcissa said softly, her voice trembling slightly. "He's gone further down the path of immortality than anyone…"
"The Dark Lord and his Death Eaters' names seem quite fitting, don't they?" Snape said. "Now you understand the notebook's importance to him—and what would happen if he learned you lost it."
"We'd face his harshest punishment," Narcissa whispered. "Severus, I know what to do." She hesitated, then added, "If I learn anything significant about the Dark Lord, I'll find a way to tell you."
"Why?" Snape asked, genuinely surprised by the offer.
"Since you've come this far," Narcissa said, looking up at him with complex emotions in her eyes, "you must be working to stop the Dark Lord from achieving his eternal goal."
"And…" her voice softened, "I don't want a volatile, immortal Денис, immortal leader. I don't want my children to live under his rule forever."
Snape studied her, gauging the sincerity of her words.
Her gaze never wavered.
"Ministers of Magic and so-called 'greatest wizards' come and go," she said. "But the Malfoy family remains the Malfoy family. The Dark Lord's immortality would disrupt that."
"Keep an eye on your husband," Snape said, nodding. "Lucius isn't as sharp as you."
"Agreed," Narcissa said, then suddenly asked, "We're still friends, aren't we?"
"Why not?" Snape replied. "My friend."
A sly smile crossed Narcissa's face. "Do you remember the Sorting Hat's song from your first year? It's the one it sang the most."
Before Snape could respond, she looked into his eyes and sang softly:
"Perhaps you'll join Slytherin, where you'll make true friends,
But cunning folk will use any means to achieve their ends…"
"Well sung," Snape said, clapping lightly. "Thank you for the compliment."
A soft knock interrupted them.
The study door opened, and Lucius entered, holding a small, black-covered book. He closed the door, glanced worriedly at Narcissa, and, relieved to see her unharmed, handed the book to Snape before sitting obediently.
After re-binding Lucius with ropes, Snape inspected the notebook to ensure it wasn't a product of a Geminio spell.
The faded date on the cover marked it as thirty-five years old. Snape carefully opened it, revealing a name scrawled in smudged ink on the first page: T.M. Riddle.
Riddle's diary was entirely blank, not a trace of writing within.
Snape took a quill from the desk, dipped it in ink, and approached Narcissa, gesturing for her to watch.
"My name is Jerry Spike," he wrote in the diary.
Under their watchful eyes, the ink shimmered brightly for a second before being absorbed into the page, vanishing completely.
Then, words appeared, written in the same ink he'd used.
"Hello, Jerry Spike. My name is Tom Riddle. How did you find my diary?"
————
Supporting me on Patreon to gain early access to advanced chapters and enjoy expedited updates. Your support is greatly appreciated.
pat-reon .com/Dragonhair
(Just remove the hyphen - and space, to access Patreon normally.)