The Most Slytherin of Slytherins

The Most Slytherin of Slytherins.

The corridor leading to the holding cells under the Ministry of Magic was a cheerless place, befitting of its present use. The trials for Death Eaters and their associates was a long and tiring process for all involved and the frustration and despair of the occupants of these cells was an almost tangible presence in the air. Severus Snape was not generally sensitive to the emotions of others, but even he could feel it.

There were two Aurors on guard at the entrance to the corridor. He showed them the letter of authorization and allowed them to conduct a quick anti-glamour check. Once they were sure that it was indeed the Severus Snape their attitudes of surly suspicion changed to something approaching awe. He found that secretly amusing.

As he followed one of the Aurors down the corridor, Severus frowned in distaste. Although deeply involved in the trial process, this was the first time he had been down here. He could feel the tension increasing in his body with every step down the corridor. After everything he had seen and done over the years he was obviously still not immune to anxiety.

The guard stopped in front of the third cell on the right and deactivated the locking spells, then stood back to allow Severus to sweep past into the dimly lit room. He stood just inside the cell while the door was locked behind him. It was a very plain room painted white and sparsely furnished with a simple bed, table, chair and small cupboard.

Severus's narrow lips thinned in distaste at the condition of the room's occupant. She sat on the bed with her arms clasped around her legs and her chin resting on her knees. It was an extreme gesture of defense against whoever dared violate her isolation. As she looked up at him, there was no immediate sign of recognition, just a blank look of suspicion, and a squinting of eyes partly blinded by the sudden glare from the open doorway.

"Narcissa."

At the sound of her name, recognition stole across her face in the form of a sneer. "To what do I owe the pleasure of a visit from the traitor, Severus Snape?"

He looked at the defiance in her face, a mere shadow of the contempt she had once been capable of conveying so well. In fact, in every way she was just a shadow of the proud and arrogant witch that he had known. Her hair, no longer controlled by styling and colour charms, had reverted to its natural dirty dark blonde, hanging straight and straggly over her face and shoulders. The ugly grey robe hung shapeless on her body.

"Well Severus, have you come here to gloat?" she spat at him, fear and loathing playing across her face. "You have out-Slytherined us all. Playing the double agent to perfection, so it did not matter who won. Either way you would be on the winning side. I hear whispers in this hell hole, whispers that you are in line for a very senior Ministry position. Maybe in a few years the Minister's job itself."

He did not confirm or deny the accusation. What was the point? "Believe what you need to believe, Narcissa. It makes no difference to me." There was a chilly silence. "I have been speaking to the lawyer in charge of your defense," he continued.

She cut him off with a disgusted sniff and a dismissive wave of one hand." That pompous little half-breed. A lot of good he is."

Severus's lip twitched in a slight smile. There was still some sign of the old Narcissa there.

"He has been working very hard on your behalf."

She snorted in disbelief.

"I have been in regular contact with him on your case and I asked him if I could speak with you."

"Why? What do you want with me?" Now he could see a calculating light start to burn in her eyes. She let go of her legs and turned to the side of the bed to face him.

"You know me fairly well, Narcissa. Can't you guess?"

"No. I have no idea," she said stiffly. "I don't really know you anymore. I used to think I knew you as well as anyone could."

"You did," he acknowledged, "and you used and abused that knowledge." He took the two steps to the other side of the room and turned to look down on her. "You knew how I felt about you and you exploited my infatuation. You treated me like a servant, but kept me hoping that it was something more. When you never, ever intended that it should be, did you?"

"Why would I seriously consider tying myself to a poor man of dubious lineage with no money and no connections?"

"No, of course not," he sneered. "I was always beneath you. Well, you snared yourself the man with the lineage, the money and the connections and look at where it has left you." He let his gaze travel around the bare, pitiful room. "Lucius is dead, the Malfoy name you were in such a hurry to grab is in the gutter and you and Draco are now waiting for trial as criminals."

Her head jerked up at the sound of her son's name. "Draco? Where is he? Is he alright? That useless lawyer refuses to tell me anything."

He looked at her cynically. "If you would actually deign to talk to him I am sure he would answer your questions."

He came over and sat down on the bed next to her. "Draco is fine. He is officially in my care and being held in protective custody at Hogwarts. These cells are no place for a child."

She turned to him. "Will he....? What are his chances of....?"

"Draco will be tried, after all the adult trials. Due to his age and the fact that he was under parental influence, your lawyer is sure he will get a suspended sentence." He placed one hand tentatively on her shoulder. "He won't go to Azkaban, Narcissa."

She put her head in her hands momentarily. "Thank Merlin!"

"The thing is," he said, clasping his hands in front of him and shooting a quick sideways glance at her, "your lawyer believes you also have a good case in this regard."

She looked up at him in disbelief. "How? I am no child."

"No, however there are several factors to consider. You were not an active participant in most of the Death Eaters' more abhorrent activities and there is no evidence that you ever performed any of the Unforgivable curses. That alone counts in your favour. But we can also use the defense that you were under your husband's influence."

"What, the Imperius defense? Surely the Ministry won't accept that this time around?"

"No they won't. But there are more subtle ways in which a husband can influence his wife."

She laughed a short, sharp laugh. "So the lawyer is going to paint me as some sweet little weak-willed woman who would not dare do anything to displease her husband for fear of his wrath, is that it?"

"Fundamentally, yes."

"So where do you fit into this, my dear traitor?" He could feel her gaze burning into him, so he turned his face to meet her eyes.

"In order to make this an effective plea, a character witness will be required to vouch for the fact that you would not willingly become involved and that if given a suspended sentence you will be able to mend your ways."

She looked at him thoughtfully. "And you are to be the character witness, I presume?"

"Yes."

"Why? You are a hero of the battle against The Dark Lord, the brave spy who did so much to win the war, and you wish to help me, a Death Eater, avoid the punishment everyone believes I so rightly deserve. Again, why?"

He reached over and gently placed his hand over hers. "Would you believe that despite your rejection, despite everything, I do still care for you."

"That sounds like a dreadfully noble sort of sentiment, for the most Slytherin of Slytherins."

He gave a wry grin. "Perhaps, but that is not my only reason." He paused, stood up and turned to face her. "You see, there is the small matter of the control of the Malfoy estates."

"That is more like my Severus." She smiled. It was almost a real smile, reaching to her eyes. She stood up and stared up into his face, piercing seawater blue gazing openly into the dark black of her antagonist. "So what is the deal?"

"I agree to stand up and be your character witness. If you receive a suspended sentence then you will still retain rights to most of Lucius's money and property. However, they will probably break your wand. You will be legally unable to manage that property and you are going to need someone to protect you."

"You want to be my property manager and protector?"

"Yes."

"Won't being associated with me damage your budding political career?"

"It may have some effect, but having control of the Malfoy fortune will have its uses." He smiled ever so slightly and Narcissa's lips twitched in reply.

She moved forward towards him. They were merely a hand's breadth apart. "How can I repay you for taking that chance for me?" She was still looking deeply into his eyes as if searching for his soul. As if trying to unlock the puzzle that was Severus Snape.

He put one hand up to caress her face. "I am sure I can think of something, my dear." Severus murmured; as he leaned down to kiss her. As their lips met, she opened her mouth ever so slightly. He accepted the invitation and his tongue slid inside to taste her unique, wonderful warmth. Her arms snaked around his shoulders and she tangled her fingers into his long black hair to pull him deeper into the kiss, deeper into her.

They were now so close that he could feel her slender body through the simple grey robe. His hand moved down to the gentle swell of her breast and as he caressed her, she uttered a low sensual growl that set every nerve in his body aflame. It took every scrap of his will power to break the kiss and gently push her away. "Not here. Not now," he whispered softly in her ear. "There will be time enough later. When I have got you out of here."

She nodded assent and reluctantly let go of him. Severus turned and moved over to the door. He knocked twice to indicate to the waiting Auror that the meeting was over. As the door opened he turned to look at her once more. "So, we have a deal?"

She stood there, illuminated in the light from the door way, a faint smile playing around her lips. "Yes, my dear traitor," she said. "I do believe we have a deal."