These Deep Solitudes

Chapter Eight - High Stakes

"Which way I fly is hell; myself am hell;

And in the lowest deep a lower deep

Still threatening to devour me opens wide

To which the hell I suffer seems a heaven."

-- Milton, Paradise Lost

It was with deep chagrin that Severus answered the Headmaster's summons on Friday afternoon. He was still unsure what to do about Pettigrew, and had hoped he could consider the situation a little longer before reporting it to Dumbledore. He had brewed the protection potions, and had sent them via owl to Pettigrew, with a terse note outlining the main effects of the potions, and promising more if Pettigrew didn't annoy him too much. Perhaps threatening Voldemort's right-hand rat hadn't been particularly prudent, but Severus had a feeling Pettigrew wouldn't be reporting it to the Dark Lord anytime soon.

Severus muttered the password ("Sugarquill") and let the moving staircase carry him towards Dumbledore's office. When he reached the door, he knocked and strode in without waiting for an answer. To his astonishment and fury, Sirius Black and Remus Lupin were already there with the headmaster. Severus stopped dead, glaring daggers at Black. For his part, the fugitive had clenched his fists and fairly trembled with hatred.

"So the murderer has returned," Severus said, biting off each word.

"Ah, and the slimy traitorous git is still teaching," Black returned, his cheeks flushing with anger.

"Padfoot," Lupin murmured, putting a hand on Black's elbow. The other man shook it off impatiently.

"That is enough," Dumbledore said quietly, rising. His expression was mild, but his eyes flashed stern command. Severus bit his tongue until he tasted blood, but he subsided.

Dumbledore waved his wand to summon chairs for his guests, then sat down behind his desk once more. "I do not understand why we must go over this repeatedly. Severus, Sirius, you were both very young, and ruled by youthful passions. That is no excuse now. The past twenty years have wrought changes in all of us; one suppose it may be too much to hope it has brought either of you wisdom, but maturity, at least, is expected."

Severus glanced at Lupin, who sighed. It was almost a sound of regret. Black's eyes still smouldered rebelliously, but as he gazed at the headmaster, he slowly lowered his head and nodded. Severus looked back at Dumbledore, who raised his eyebrows. Clenching his teeth--Think of Rain; do this for Rain--he stood and walked across to Black, extending his hand. Black stared at it for a moment, then stared up at him, and http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~scain/TDS08TRUCE.JPGgripped his hand. When Severus sat down, he found the headmaster's speculative gaze upon him. Severus grimaced at him, and Dumbledore's eyes twinkled for a moment.

"Remus," the headmaster said, "please tell us what you've done this week."

Lupin nodded. "I set up wards around Rain's office, and reinforced the personal defenses I gave her--before."

Black shifted. "How is she?" he asked gruffly.

"Cautiously optimistic," Lupin replied. "She has promised to be careful. She's returned to her teaching, which has been going well, I believe."

"She is already causing confusion among the students of my house," Severus volunteered. "Thanks to her strange teaching methods, 'Prince' Draco has been sulking since Tuesday. He has become positively churlish." He surprised himself by snickering.

Black stared at him. "Coming fro--" he began, and cut himself off when Lupin kicked him.

Dumbledore's eyes were twinkling. "And you, Severus? What have you learned?"

He drew in a deep breath. "It was Pettigrew who sent the curse. As I suspected. He asked me to protect him from his old friends." He sneered at the Marauders out of habit. Black swore and half-stood. Lupin stared at the fire, a muscle in his jaw twitching. Severus would have enjoyed their reactions more if he didn't feel essentially the same. That the rat could have dared attack someone so silvery, so luminous, as Katraina--he closed his eyes briefly and let the anger pass.

"I have already had a small measure of revenge against him," he said, smirking. "The Ironskin Potion does indeed grant temporary physical invulnerability, but it becomes a painful experience, and must be renewed daily. Each successive dose is less effective than the last. He won't enjoy that potion." He fancied Black and Lupin were more cheered by this news than Dumbledore. "Of course, Pettigrew always was abysmal at Potions--worse, I hazard, than even Longbottom.

"The information has been harder to trace. I am still not certain who told Pettigrew about Katraina's...weakness." He was not going to name it in front of Black. Snape fancied he had seen Rain's feelings for Lupin before she had even realized her interest in Black was waning; if Rain hadn't told Lupin, Black certainly wouldn't know.

"As if we would ever believe you had nothing to do with it," Black snarled, angry again, and for a moment Severus actually thought the man would break their uneasy truce and hit him.

"Be quiet, you stupid man," Severus snapped, glaring at him. "Of course I have had to divulge information about her, about all of you. It is my only way of protecting he--this school." He clenched his teeth and cursed himself silently for the slip.

Black was fairly dancing in his seat, his face red. Remus placed a hand on his shoulder, his knuckles white with the strength of his grip. Neither of them seemed to have heard the mistake. Dumbledore had. His face was grave; but a twinkle in behinds the spectacles betrayed his amusement. Severus drew in a deep breath through his nose, trying to calm himself. He hated being laughed at, even privately.

"Are you mad?" Black said, his voice tense. "To go back in there time after time? One of these days they're going to recognize you for the treacherous snake that you are, and then that'll be it for you. Oh, wait--" He laughed shortly. "I forgot, they're all treacherous snakes, aren't they? Everyone knows Slytherin can be pronounced Death Eater."

"Contrary to your uninformed opinions," Severus said through gritted teeth, "there are just as many Hufflepuffs, Ravenclaws, and Gryffindors, among the Death Eaters. Oh yes, Gryffindors--I would have thought you'd have personal knowledge of that, Black." He curled his lip. "After all, it does take a certain amount of courage to face the Dark Lord's tests of loyalty."

"You are mad!" Black growled.

Severus had had enough. "I am not mad!" he snarled, coming to his feet and clenching his fists. "I would to heaven I were! For then 'tis like I should forget myself!"

The three men stared at him, and he flushed, realizing he had said too much. Black looked taken aback, and there was a new light of understanding in Lupin's eyes that made Severus cringe. He snarled and turned back to his seat.

"Sirius," the headmaster said gently, "I knew when I sent Severus back into that Devil's Snare of Death Eaters, that his safety could only be assured if I allowed him to pass along information. He walks a very thin blade's edge, spying for us while pretending to spy for them." He took a deep breath. "It weighs very heavily on my conscience. If you wish to blame someone for Rain's injury, blame me."

Sirius shook his head, but Dumbledore said firmly, "Do not blame Severus. He is not happy about betraying his friend. He does what he must to protect us, Rain, and himself."

Sulkily, Black looked down at his clenched fists. "Have you heard from Arthur Weasley?"

"I expect word from him this week. His son Bill has been in touch with Remus."

Severus looked at Lupin in surprise. So he was doing more than simply moon over Rain? Lupin saw the surprise in his glance and nodded wryly at him.

"Bill and I are meeting tomorrow evening to discuss some information he has. He is in a secure location, but is coming out briefly to help us."

Dumbledore rose. "Be careful, all of you. Let me know at once if anything untoward occurs. Sirius, if you'll wait a moment--"

Severus found himself going down the staircase with Lupin, who was blessedly silent. When they reached the bottom, Severus turned to go back to his dungeons, but Lupin put out a hand.

"She doesn't blame you," he said quietly. "I thought--well, if she doesn't blame you, I don't reckon I have the right to blame you, either."

Normally it would have made Severus angry. If questioned, he wouldn't be able to say why today it was different. He stared at the werewolf, unable to tell what expression he showed. After a moment he closed his mouth, nodded curtly, and left.

~*~

Remus sighed and sat back on his heels, surveying his work. He'd finished strengthening the wards about Rain's window seat; now only Arcanus and owls whom Rain invited in would be able to enter. He didn't think Peter would be brave enough to try again, and Rain would certainly be more cautious of packages in the future...but better safe than sorry.

He was lingering there, hoping she would stop in here before going to dinner. Dumbledore had summoned him, and with the wording of the note, Remus knew what it was about. He was being sent to Wales. At their meeting the night before, Bill Weasley had told him of a prominent werewolf there, Huw Pritchard, who had been agitating for werewolf rights. Dumbledore wanted Remus to approach him and win him to the Order before Voldemort could steal him. Remus wanted to say goodbye to Rain before he went.

Her footsteps, when his ears picked out their approach, were accompanied by another person, who walked too lightly to be an adult. He let himself out into the office just as the door opened. Colin Creevey followed Rain into the room, a smile on his face. When he saw Remus, he faltered slightly. Rain, however, simply smiled at him.

"Remus, have you finished the wards?"

He smiled vaguely in return. "I was just waiting for you to inspect them."

"Excuse us for just a moment, Colin," she said, following Remus back into her room. She closed the door behind her and put her arms around his neck. 'This child is driving me ma-a-ad," she whispered, kissing him quickly.

He snickered. "He has a tendency to do that," he said. "Look, we haven't but a minute. I need to say goodbye for a few days. The headmaster has an errand for me. Be careful, Rain. Don't leave the castle unless you're with Dumbledore or Minerva. Or Severus," he added after a moment, because he could be mature, dammit.

She smiled wryly at him, as if she knew what he was thinking. "I promise," she said, and kissed him again, more slowly.

"If you keep that up, I won't be able to make myself leave," he said when they parted. He shook his head and pulled her into a tight embrace. "Oh, I don't want to leave you at all, Rainy Day," he whispered. "Please be careful."

She gave a tiny laugh. "You're the one who needs to be careful." She pulled away and tilted her head. "I love you, Remus. You had better come back to me."

He caught her hand in his and held it to her heart. "You know I will. I've loved you as long as I've known you."

She coloured prettily and he grinned at her. Opening the door, he raised his voice. "Well, if the wards are satisfactory, Rain, I'll leave you to it. Be well."

She followed him back out, to where Colin was sitting in a chair kicking his feet idly. "Quite satisfactory, thank you, Remus. I'll see you later."

He let himself out as she turned her attention back to Colin. It tore at his heart to leave her at all; he had wasted too much time already for him to be comfortable spending more time away from her. But he had told Dumbledore he would serve in an capacity, and he could not refuse the old man. With dragging feet, he made his way to the headmaster's office.

Sirius was waiting there, which was a welcome surprise. He was pacing, unaware that he was watched. Remus winced as Sirius took six paces, turned, took eight paces, turned again, and took six more paces. He had never said, but Remus suspected they were the dimensions of his cell in Azkaban. When Sirius turned again, he saw Remus. The shadows on his face vanished and he came towards him, smiling.

"Moony, I heard the most interesting thing from Harry this afternoon. You'll never guess."

Remus smiled in resignation. "What is it?"

Sirius shrugged playfully. "Oh, not much of anything, really. Never mind."

"No you don't," Remus said, grinning. "Out with it, Padfoot, before I hit you with a Nepabractarus Curse! Hard to keep a secret when you're scrambling to get the imaginary scorpions out of your trousers!"

Sirius shook his head. "Nah, it's not actually that interesting. Forget it."

Remus pushed up his sleeves and advanced, scowling theatrically. Sirius held up his hands in mock surrender. "All right, all right! Harry just asked me if you and Rain had ever been, you know, more than friends." He smirked. "When I said I couldn't tell him, he asked if she and I had ever..." He waggled an eyebrow.

Remus wasn't altogether surprised, though he suspected the more perceptive Hermione had put the idea in Harry's head. "And...?"

Sirius was still leering. "You know me. Can't resist a good boast."

Remus rolled his eyes. "Honestly, Padfoot, she's a teacher!"

Sirius chuckled. "Don't be such a prat, Moony. I didn't tell him anything. Said I'd kissed her a couple of times, and so had you, and P--well, a couple of other friends." His face darkened momentarily, but then he laughed. "I also seized the opportunity to tell him he shouldn't lose any more time with that feisty Weasley girl." He buffed his nails on his robe. "I may have let on that I was a bit more regretful over Rain than I am, mind you. Gather ye rosebuds and all that."

Remus shook his head, laughing. "You are incorrigible."

"I just hope he takes my advice to heart. Ginny Weasley worships him--well, all those Weasleys do, really--and he couldn't do much better."

"Do you regret Rain?" Remus asked impulsively. Then he flinched, not sure he wanted the answer.

Sirius didn't answer for a long moment. He gazed thoughtfully at Fawkes, watching a tiny flame lick its way down a wing. Finally he said, "Well, sure, yeah, a little. I mean, any man she'd loved would have to be daft not to. I mean, even that barmy git's lost to her--was he really meant to marry her? Harry said he'd heard it somewhere. Bloody odd, that--so, regret? I suppose I do, rather. Fine thing that is, eh?" He flickered a grin at Remus, who tried a weak laugh.

"Then, do you want me to--to step aside?" he asked, feeling sick. He didn't think he'd be able to, even for Sirius--the man he'd willingly die for. "She loved you first."

Sirius looked at him in amusement. "You dolt," he said fondly. "You've always been so angry at me for ignoring Rain--lord, that time you punched me over the Leaver's Ball!" He laughed. "Dear, silly ass. Did you never realize that I couldn't do anything about her, because I knew you were in love with her?"

Remus blinked. "You knew--"

"Hopeless. Absolutely dizzy," Sirius said implacably. He shrugged. "Who didn't know, that's the real question. Lily did. James--well, perhaps James didn't notice. Peter knew. She was so kind to him--bloody bastard!" He clenched his fists for a moment, then forced himself to relax. "What killed me was how she always chummed about with Snape. She was so bloody smart, couldn't she see what a git he was? Him and all that Pureblood horseshit he spouted."

"Rain's a Pureblood," Remus said mildly. "And you're no mongrel, either."

Sirius' gaze turned fierce. "That's right, and look at us, Moony. You're the best of all of us, faithful and brilliant. And you're the one with a Muggle granddad."

Remus smiled. Sirius could be a stubborn prat sometimes, but he was fiercely loyal; he always had been. Remus still found it unbelievable that he could ever have thought Sirius a traitor. "I had a good role model," he said. "Albus taught me everything I know of faithfulness and brilliance."

"What embarrassing timing," said a quiet, amused voice from the doorway. Remus and Sirius turned to watch the headmaster stride into the center of the room. He moved with a speed and agility that belied his age; yet Remus saw lines of care on the old man's face.

"I apologize for keeping you," Dumbledore said. "I had some unfinished business which took longer than I had expected." He conjured three chairs into a triangle, and took one of them himself. "Gentlemen, I will attempt to be brief. Remus, you know about Huw Pritchard; some of this information comes from Severus, and some of it from my liaison with the Pendragons. Dem fine woman, tall thing with lots of red hair; makes a very fine Japanese tea ceremony, too."

Remus coughed quietly and Dumbledore beamed at him. "Quite right, Remus. I'm getting off-topic. Well, Pritchard is a key figure in Wizarding Wales, or the whole United Kingdom for that matter. He's been agitating for Being status, and Severus says Voldemort's eye is finally turning towards him. You must not allow him to join the enemy."

"Is Sirius coming with me?" Remus asked. "Only werewolves can be quite territorial, with those who aren't--erm, pack." He felt a small throb begin at his temples. He had never liked talking about his kind, and now he was doubly uncomfortable; he felt as if he were somehow selling out his own. But his side was Dumbledore's, and if he wanted to two parts of him--wizard and wolf--to ever be at peace, he knew he had to try to draw the two sides together.

"No, no," Albus said, beaming. "No, my boy, Sirius is here because of a very good idea--mine, in fact. I know you will be uncomfortable, leaving Rain here alone--as am I--so I arranged for Sirius to come and keep an eye on her. I believe the creature was pining for its mistress." He chuckled and glanced at Sirius, who whined and made not-quite-literal puppy dog eyes at Remus.

"Harry and his friends--" Remus began.

"Already knew about the plan," Sirius said. "That ba--erm, Potions Master, knows me, too, though."

"I did not forget," Dumbledore said, looking reprovingly at Sirius. "He had some choice words on the matter, but he agreed to go along with it. Though he wished me to convey the message that he will not follow a black dog anywhere." There was a tiny sparkle of mischief in his eyes.

Remus nodded. "I'd better get going if I'm to catch the night train. Padfoot, tell Rain she may take you out for walks."

Sirius growled at him, making him laugh, then surprised him by pulling him into a rough embrace. "Be careful, Moony," he said in a slightly suspect voice. "It's getting dark out there.

Remus knew he didn't mean the sunset.

~*~

Severus fought the urge to sneer the first time he saw Rain with Black trailing at her heels. Oh, what he wouldn't have given to have seen that years ago, when Black had belittled Rain's love--belittled it, a thing so precious as that, when Severus would have given the world for it! But Rain had taught Severus not to be entirely selfish, and even though he hated Black, if that prat's love would have made Rain happy, Severus would have accepted it.

He didn't fight the urge too violently. "What a lovely mutt you have there, Katraina," he sneered.

She frowned slightly at him. "But he--oh, of course." Her brow cleared. "Come now, Severus," she said lightly, falling in beside him and slipping a hand onto his arm. "Be kind. Even strays need a home."

He grimaced but did not pull away. He allowed few people the familiarity of touching him, but his heart trembled when her fingers rested on the sleeve of his robe. Damn you, he thought, it is far easier to hate everyone.

"I thought you might join me for dinner," she suggested, her voice blithe. "And then, perhaps, would you play chess with me? I very much miss it, when Remus is away."

She sought his company. He knew he should refuse, knew he couldn't let her get any closer to him. Yet...she and Remus had not been together all this time, as he had always supposed. She obviously had no feelings for Black, whom she led around like a real hound. She had asked Severus to join her.

The black dog growled warningly and before Severus could stop himself, he heard his voice say, "It would be my very great pleasure."

She smiled dazzlingly at him, and he thought his heart paused for a moment. At that exact moment the Dark Mark, in its place under her fingers, began to burn. He bit the inside of his cheek to keep from wincing. Taking a deep breath, he said slowly, "I am afraid I will only have time for one game, however. I have--business this night."

Instantly she looked concerned--concerned for him, damn her!--and said, "Oh, Severus, I'm sorry! Would it be better if--"

He waved his free hand in a graceful gesture of denial. "One game," he repeated. "Are you on your way to dinner now?"

"Yes. I was going to sneak some scraps to Snuffles under the table."

Snuffles. He stared in total astonishment at the dog. For a moment Black hung his head, tail drooping. Then his brown eyes met Severus' and the dog lifted his head, growling again.

"I...see," Severus said finally. They walked towards the Great Hall in silence. Through the burning of the Dark Mark, Severus was conscious that he felt almost at ease. When they reached the door, however, he tensed. Now Rain would drop his arm, pretend they were not walking in together--but for once he had underestimated her. If anything, the presence of her hand became more commanding. He swept into the room and she floated in on his arm, regal and self-possessed.

He was aware of a certain sense of awe in him, reverence for the great lady she had become, worship for the companionship and grace she offered to him, respect for her teaching skills and deft handling of his Slytherins. She should have been one of us, he thought.

They were not immediately noticed, so they had the grace to reach the head table before murmurs from the students reached a louder pitch. Severus felt himself blushing--lord, blushing! At his age!--and scowled at the Slytherin table. They, at least, were quelled by him. The Ravenclaws and Gryffindors were another matter. Potter met his gaze with hostility and challenge that was so reminiscent of James that Severus caught his breath. "Little prig," he muttered.

Rain shot him an amused glance as he pulled out her chair for her. She settled serenely into it, calmly ignoring the student reaction. As Severus moved to sit next to her, he felt a tug at his hem. The black dog was gripping his robe firmly in its teeth. Severus said quietly, "If you don't call off your dog, I'll slip a Thawing Potion into his food."

She actually laughed. "Heel, Snuffles," she said. "And don't rip his robes. The cut is too dashing." She glanced at Severus with a smirk. "Well, I'm glad to see you remember something from Muggle Studies. Only it's antifreeze, Severus; I doubt a Thawing Potion would do much to him."

He grimaced at her, and she smiled pleasantly back. He sat down to eat his supper, ignoring the pain in his arm.

It only took him thirty minutes to checkmate her king, but her playing had been sloppy and he knew it. He fought the impulse to say something cutting. Instead, when she tipped her king with a sigh, he frowned. "You shouldn't worry so much about him. He's going among his own kind, after all. You're distracting yourself."

She flushed and looked down. "I'm that transparent, am I?"

"To me," he said before thinking. Then it was his turn to look away. He stood up and swept his robes around him. "I must go. If I am back by tomorrow night, I am at your service, should you care to play a better game than tonight's." He turned.

"Severus." He stopped but didn't look back. When her hand touched his arm, just over the Mark, he twitched. "It's Him, isn't it?" she said in a low voice. When he didn't respond she came to stand in front of him. Staring up into his eyes, she touched his cheek gently. "Be careful."

Not trusting himself to reply, he nodded once, curtly, then brushed past her to the door. He heard the black dog bark once before the door closed behind him.

~*~

Sirius bounded to his feet as soon as Severus was gone. "What the bloody hell was that for?" he demanded.

Rain sighed and put her hands to her temples. "Please, Sirius, hasn't this day been hard enough?"

He ignored this. "I have tried to accept that there's something inside that slimy git that you like, even though I can't for the life of me see what. But this is going too far, Rainstorm, too far!"

"Too far?" she asked, arching an eyebrow.

Sirius had apparently forgotten the warning signs of her temper--then again, he wasn't accustomed to having it directed at him. He paced eight steps and then six, then spun to face her. "I mean, Godric's beard, Rain, you're practically engaged to Remus!"

Practically engaged? She settled a cool gaze on him. "That will be enough, Sirius." He stared at her in chagrin. She continued. "I do not know--I have never known--what you and James had against Severus. I don't know, nor do I care, what poison you spread against him with others. What I do know is that Severus is as brilliant as any of you, in his own way, and that he is now your ally. Everyone must stand together and work together, Sirius, or we will fall together." Sirius hung his head, looking like nothing so much as a scolded dog, but Rain wasn't finished.

"If you can't do it for yourself, do it for your godson. Harry has enough he has to deal with, especially after what happened last year. Severus does tend to punish him for his father, but you don't have to continue to goad Severus. It only makes it harder on Harry." She sighed. "You know I love you, Sirius, but Severus is my friend, too, and I cannot continually be punished for it. Severus, at least, does not take me to task for my choice of friends."

She rubbed at her eyes. "Oh, I am so tired, Sirius," she said, annoyed by the plaintive note in her voice. "And I am worried for him." To her horror, she felt tears well up in her eyes.

Wordlessly Sirius bowed to her, without a trace of irony. When he straightened, he saw her tears and pulled her close in a hug. "I'm sorry, Rainstorm. I'm being a git myself, aren't I? All right, I'll quit nagging you about him. And don't worry about Remus; he'll be fine." He hesitated, then said slowly, "Do you want Padfoot tonight, Rain? Remus said I'm to keep an eye on you; I could sleep by your hearth."

Gratitude flooded her and she nodded against his chest. She felt so much safer now than she had a mere four months ago, even if someone was trying to hurt her. At Heatherhall she had a staff. Here she had a family. She relaxed into Sirius' embrace and he held her more tightly. His arms were muscular but too thin, and she thought again that he needed someone to watch over him.

"Sirius, what happened to you and Jules?" she said. An instant too late she remembered--he'd been thrown into Azkaban.

Sirius stiffened and moved away. "What brought that up?" he asked, an edge to his voice.

It was too late to change the subject. "I just worry about you, that's all. You're not eating enough."

"Just like a woman," he said, relaxing fractionally. "Thinks every man needs someone to take care of him."

"God knows you haven't the sense to do it yourselves," she teased.

He shrugged and moved restlessly about the room. "I got sent to Azkaban, Jules got married, end of story. I quite like that Stanton chap; he's a good enough fellow." He ran one hand down his face and sighed. "Ah, I wouldn't have married Jules, anyway; we were both having a bit of fun, that's all. She knew it and I knew it. But I'll tell you who I still wonder about," he said, turning suddenly and looking at her with confidence. "It's Silverthorne I still wonder about."

Ah. There was a sticky subject. Esme's old friend, Slytherin Prefect Silverthorne. Rain nodded. "Mmm."

"Whatever became of Cress, do you know?"

Rain turned and began straightening papers on her desk. "Mm-hmm."

"What?" He came closer to peer at her. "Well, Rainy Day? Where is she?" At her hesitation he said, "She's not--"

"Dead? No," she replied reluctantly. She sighed. "All right, Sirius, she cursed your name and threw her inheritance to her brother and moved to America. I don't hear much from her these days."

"Ah." He turned away, sticking his hands in his pocket and blinking at a painting on her wall, of Heatherhall Manor. As the silence stretched uncomfortably, he put his head to one side and began to hum. After a few minutes he turned and smiled at her. It seemed a sharp smile, to cut himself on. "Well, Cress was never the forgive and forget type, was she? I know I'm not as good as Remus, but d'you fancy a game of chess with me before bed?"

He didn't fool her. But she knew he'd not say another thing about it. She really ought to be grading those essays on the important events in early Hogwarts history. But she knew a game of chess, whether he won or lost, would cheer him. So she agreed.

Later, when she was in bed, listening to the black dog's whuffling snores from the banked hearth, she thought of the emptiness life must present in Azkaban, the horrible price those thirteen years must have exacted from his soul. And she resolved to write a letter to Cressida Silverthorne very soon.

~*~

Thank whatever mercy God saved for him, he didn't have to go to Voldemort right away this time. When he could finally walk down past Hogsmeade and Apparate to the Riddle house, the Dark Lord was closeted with Nagini and a mysterious visitor. Pettigrew gestured patronizingly with his silver hand and spared Severus a smile.

"The Dark Lord is occupied at the moment, Severus. But Lucius, Angus, and I have been playing a quick game of poker while we wait. Perhaps you'll join us. If the stakes aren't too high for you," he added slyly.

Severus grimaced at him. "Pleased to," he said shortly. "I've dealt in higher stakes than you'll ever see, Pettigrew."

The rat's face grew thoughtful for a moment, the smile slipping. "No, I don't think you have, Severus," he said softly. As Severus blinked, he switched back to jovial. "Don't worry. It's knut-ante tonight. This way." He ushered him into the small drawing room, where the others were already seated about a table.

Lucius raised an eyebrow. "Ah, Severus deigns to join us, for a change."

Severus nodded archly at him. "I would have thought you of all people would understand my situation, Lucius. It can't be easy to drop everything at the Ministry and Disapparate. Surely someone even in that group of blind fools would have to see the connection, sooner or later." He swept his robes out of the way and sat down across from Lucius. MacNair dealt him in with barely a flickered glance at him.

A pair of jacks. Not terrible. They made faces at him as he watched Peter ante up and take his cards. The rat grimaced slightly, surprising Severus; he'd always been a better poker player than chess. There were times Peter had even managed to outbluff him.

Lucius took two cards, and Severus was forced to revise his assumptions as MacNair took two as well. Usually when one played poker with Lucius Malfoy, it was five-card stud. Why had he switched to draw? Severus took three cards, keeping only the jacks. When he looked at the cards, a queen winked bawdily at him from behind a ten and a three. Ah, so these were MacNair's cards. He clenched his teeth for no reason and met Lucius' gaze.

"What news from Hogwarts, Severus?" Lucius asked, his voice casual. "I understand Peter's curse on that History of Magic professor wasn't quite as effective as could have been hoped."

Peter sucked in a breath, and without looking at him, Severus said, "Was it Peter? I wondered. I'll see your bet and raise you a knut."

Lucius raised another three knuts without bothering to glance at his cards. "You mean you didn't know ahead of time? Dear me, Severus, did you displease the Master?"

"Not that I'm aware of," Severus said dryly.

MacNair folded. Severus called. Lucius met Severus' eyes without changing his expression, but when Peter showed them a full house, Lucius gritted his teeth and glared. Severus allowed himself to chuckle, earning another glare from Lucius and a startled expression from Peter.

"It's refreshing to see someone get the better of you, Lucius," Severus remarked, leaning back in his chair. "Particularly someone like Peter." Peter collected his winning and anted up, then gathered the cards and began to shuffle them expertly. "One thing you should remember," Severus added as Lucius continued to glower at him, "Peter's always had an excellent poker face; he needed one, with his situation." He tipped an imaginary hat in Peter's direction, and the little rat's mouth dropped open.

Lucius was eyeing him speculatively. "You never did answer my question, Snape," he said. His voice was deceptively light, belying the hawk's piercing gaze he fixed on Severus.

Severus raised his eyebrows. "Nothing of real importance has happened at Hogwarts recently, Lucius. I was forced to sit through a meeting with Black and the werewolf, but the old fool won't tell me where Black hides when he's not strutting around the headmaster's office." Mentally he apologized to Dumbledore for the 'old fool'.

"Mm. And Lady McGonagall wasn't involved?"

"You don't know? She wasn't. I thought you would have Draco watching her." Severus took two cards and bit his tongue as the Jack mooned him. Definitely MacNair's deck.

"Draco is...strangely silent on the topic of the new professor. Though he has plenty to say about the werewolf." Lucius flashed a smile that was too full of teeth for Severus' comfort. "I understand Lupin is rather taken with the silly chit. And that you have been seen talking with both of them."

"I think if you ask, you'll find I've been seen talking with Vector and Sprout, too," Severus said, skating a thin line between sarcasm and contempt. "I am a professor, as are they." He raised the bet.

"Let us hope you have not suddenly begun having qualms about your allegiances," Lucius said, and raised.

"On that you need have no fear," Severus said, raising again. Peter and MacNair folded.

"You know how the Dark Lord would hate to lose such a valuable resource within Hogwarts," Lucius said, adding a sickle to the pot.

"Indeed." Severus raised again.

With a look of faint disgust, Lucius called and turned over two pair, queens high.

"Bluffing, Lucius?" Severus said archly as he laid down his straight flush.

The look Lucius gave him was pure unadulterated hatred. He opened his mouth to speak, but at that moment Voldemort's high cold voice summoned them to his side. Peter and MacNair jumped to obey, but Lucius and Severus both had images to uphold. They stood more slowly and walked towards Voldemort's study. As they reached the door, Lucius gripped Severus' elbow tightly enough to cut off the blood flow.

"Don't think I can't see through you, Severus," he hissed, and his eyes were icy. "You were seen in Hogsmeade with Katraina McGonagall, and you didn't look like you were trying to get information from her. Hogsmeade visit or no, it isn't wise to be seen getting so cozy with Dumbledore's cadre." His grip tightened. "Love hath made thee a tame snake."

Severus jerked his arm out of Lucius' grip and matched him stare for stare for a long moment. Then he strode in to attend their master.