Knight of Pentacles, Queen of Wands

Ch. 12: The Hanged Man

"I don't know what's worse; Severus' filthy Muggle side coming out or the Black madness. Either way, the two of you have lost your minds."

Severus, thus far, had been quite content to let Regulus do all of the talking. He saw no reason to draw anymore undue attention to himself at the moment. Lucius in a snit and talking about his half-blood heritage was usually an unpleasant combination at the best of times. It was in his best interest to let Regulus take the brunt of Lucius' ire.

"Lucius-" Regulus stated placatingly.

"No, cousin," Lucius sneered. "What you speak of will get us all killed by the Dark Lord. I, for one, have a bit more self preservation than that."

"It won't get us killed if we're successful," Regulus muttered reasonably.

Lucius laughed bitterly.

"You're a veritable wonder, Regulus! Tell me... are you willing to give up everything for a Mudblood, like Severus? Or perhaps you're willing to give up everything for a miserable blood traitor that's only brought shame to your family!"

"He's split his soul, Lucius!" Regulus hissed.

Lucius stopped short. He was holding the diary and looked down at it quickly.

"What do you mean?" the blond wizard asked slowly.

"Yes, just that. Those objects-"

"Ah. I see."

Severus could see the dawning comprehension in Lucius' eyes and then the Slytherin cunning as he quickly formed a plan that would likely save his own skin but still get everyone else killed.

"Well, as far as I'm concerned, the cup is yours. The diary will not be altered or leave my possession. I simply can't take the risk at this time."

"Lucius?" Regulus asked cautiously.

Lucius sneered.

"I'll not take the fall for either of you. I'm going to bed. Bellatrix can fend for herself."

Despite himself, Severus couldn't help but admire such sentiments when it came to Bellatrix Lestrange. Even her family wasn't that fond of her.

"Well, that went better than I expected," Regulus said lightly.

Severus snarled. "He's smarter than either of us!"

Regulus resolutely ignored his outburst and went about trying to get Sirius to transfigure the cup.

"It's not working! Why isn't it working?"

"Perhaps, it's because he's fighting the curse? Perhaps, he's not as gifted as we all thought? Perhaps-"

"Of course! I should have remembered. I'll have to take the curse off."

"Are you mad? He'll only try to escape," Severus groused.

"Nonsense! Sirius might be a Gryffindor, but he'll help us because he's just as determined as we are to see the Dark Lord gone."

With those words and a Finite Incantatem, Sirius Black was back to himself. Severus mentally braced himself. Whatever else might be said, Severus loathed Sirius Black and the feeling was mutual.

"You! Death Eater scum! I should have known you'd be involved in all of this, Snivellus!"

Severus was unimpressed. Sirius Black hadn't improved with his insults over the years, and he felt oddly disappointed in that knowledge. He felt it was best to just get on with things. However, the resemblance to a certain volatile portrait in Grimmauld Place briefly flickered in the back of his mind.

"Transfigure the damn cup for us, Black!"

"Like I believe for a minute that everything I've seen wasn't staged-"

"Hmm, as intriguing as the idea is, we wouldn't pull out all the stops for you," Severus responded with a sneer.

"I won't do it," Sirius said with a resolute set to his jaw.

"Then I'll see to it that you don't make it out of here alive," Severus hissed.

Sirius scoffed. That alone made Severus livid. Regulus took him seriously though, if the frantic widening of his eyes was any indication.

"Severus, you wouldn't-"

Despite his protestations, Regulus had and always would worship the ground that Sirius Black tread upon. Regardless of the fact that his worship manifested these days into bitter jealousy, Severus was heartily sick of it.

"There's nothing I wouldn't do, as you well know."

And that was the complete truth. There wasn't really any need to elaborate. His older memories told him as much, though he didn't need that kind of evidence to have assurance of the fact.

"He's a walking liability," Severus stated reasonably. "Killing him once the Dark Lord is through with him would be best for all of us."

Sirius blanched. So, the mutt was starting to take him seriously? Would wonders never cease? It was time to press his advantage and he quickly formed a plan. His eyes gleamed wickedly as he looked at his one time school rival from the other side of the dungeon bars and spoke in a low and menacing voice.

"If you don't want to die in the near future, then I suggest that you listen to me very carefully. Firstly, you will transfigure this cup for us. Secondly, you will tell the Dark Lord anything he wants to know, see the error of your ways- have an epiphany, whatever the hell you want to call it- and convincingly beg to be given the honor of redeeming yourself by becoming a Death Eater. Thirdly, you will help us destroy any of the Dark Lord's artifacts we come across. Lastly, you will make sure that the DMLE will leave us alone, throw Potter's scent off our trail, and help us retrieve any and all information we ask of you from the Order of the Phoenix."

"Blackmailing me into becoming a Death Eater in exchange for my life? What makes you think I won't rat you out to the Dark Lord?"

The very fact that Black wasn't dismissing the notion outright was very telling to Severus' mind. It meant that he was close to getting what he wanted this time.

"Because you owe me, Black!"

Severus had his right fist clenched around his wand and his other fist was balled tightly at his side. Sirius Black had tried to kill him once and it was Severus' right to demand this of him. Black knew it too, apparently. He looked as furious as Severus had ever seen him. Then, Black did the unexpected. He gave an evil smile of his own. This did not bode well.

"I'll do it on one condition."

Of course he would. What else was new? Severus didn't respond except to raise a questioning eyebrow.

"You leave Lily Evans the hell alone."

Black had the audacity to smirk because they all knew he was reckless enough to take his chances by not agreeing. He was mad enough to try and the infamous Black madness often had the uncanny ability to get him out of tight spots. Severus was suddenly as trapped into agreement as Black had been. It was too optimistic to think that a scion of the House of Black could not have gained some Slytherin cunning along the way in spite of having been sorted into Gryffindor. Burned tapestries or no, it was a birthright.

With a supreme effort, Severus responded between clenched teeth.

"Agreed."

"Excellent. Then I agree to your terms."

They sneered in mutual contempt at each other.

Regulus looked exceptionally pleased by the entire exchange and beamed at the both of them. He really did look as if Christmas had come early. Severus didn't need to expend the effort to suss out the reason. His brother could be officially part of the family again and his friend wouldn't be consorting with Mudbloods, no matter how attractive they might be. However, it was cold comfort to Severus that neither he nor Black shared Regulus' enthusiasm.

They had a lot of work to do and not a lot of time, but for whatever his childish fit of pique was worth- and he had no doubt that it was childish- Severus had crossed his fingers before uttering a word. Agreement or not, he had no intention of leaving Lily Evans alone, and he'd be damned if Sirius Black would be the cog in the works.