Into the Mouth of Hell

Into the Mouth of Hell: Chapter 8

Betrothal

Let me not to the marriage of true minds

Admit impediments; love is not love

Which alters when it alteration finds,

Or bends with the remover to remove.

After his first year at school, Severus Snape became a member of the Black family -- unofficially, of course. He spent summers in London with Bella and Christmases in Wiltshire at Malfoy Manor. (Sirius always stayed at Hogwarts in the winter, and spent most of the summer with Potter. So Severus thankfully didn't have to see him except at school.) He wrote to his mother often and to his father periodically, although Severus did not miss them. He saw Andromeda seldom his second year and never spoke to her; rumor had it that she was living with her friend Selene Warbeck, but beyond rumors, no one in Slytherin House paid much attention. Lucius and Narcissa were married the summer after his second year -- on the day that Bella learned she had received ten O.W.L.s.

Bella did an excellent job leading the Slytherin Dueling Club, teaching its members more complex curses that she and Severus were taught over the holidays by older Black relatives. Auntie Elladora especially was keen on teaching them the many ways to hurt and maim cats and other "vermin," and Lucius taught them some simple evasion tactics and a few confuddlement charms.

In Severus' third year, Regulus, Bella's cousin, and Rabastan, the younger Lestrange brother, came to meetings to "train up a bit." In fact, many of the younger Slytherins were interested in practical defense, and Rosier and Wilkes took it upon themselves to teach them a few simple protection spells. For, as the war outside Hogwarts became darker, the battles waged between the rival Gryffindor and Slytherin Houses became more frequent. Potter and Black reportedly hexed young Slytherins just for the fun of it. Getting the "Two Gryffindor Gits" expelled was placed high on the Slytherin Dueling Club's to-do list, right after the vow to uphold the Slytherin Code of Honor, which Lucius Malfoy had written years previous: I pledge allegiance to the pureblood way; our nobility, under Slytherin, forever be defended.

Bella received the Daily Prophet every morning at breakfast. She would flip through the paper, marking anything of note, and then pass it on to Severus, and he to Lestrange, and Lestrange to Avery, and on down the line. Barty Crouch, Sr. had become Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, the biggest department in the Ministry. Which meant he was now in control of the Aurors, the group of witches and wizards working to apprehend the Dark Lord and his followers. Between what they read in the papers and the cryptic letters that Lucius sent, Bella and Severus were very aware of what was going on, even though no one at Hogwarts was discussing it. Sometimes, a black owl wearing the insignia of the Ministry of Magic would arrive after the rest of the post owls, or interrupt a class, or even come at dinner, to deliver news of a disappearance or a death to a shaking student. They read in the papers that Muggles were being tortured and Mudbloods were found dead: all subjects of the Unforgivable Curses. It wasn't too long before the Ministry granted Crouch's wish and gave Aurors free use of those three curses: Imperius, Cruciatus, and the deadly Avada Kedavra. It was this news that spurned Bella to furious action.

"Well, it's not very just, is it?" she raged at dinner one evening. "I've looked it up in the books, and everyone is entitled to a trial before the Wizengamot. They cannot rule like that, by martial law. It's outrageous!"

"My father says he blames Millicent Bagnold and that he's looking for her resignation," Lestrange said pompously. He had filled out quite a bit, and now, in his seventh year, was Captain of the Quidditch team. He and Bella had begun dating after a Hogsmeade trip around Halloween, and he said he owed his success on the Quidditch pitch to her. However, rumors that he was secretly meeting with the Ravenclaw seeker, Florence Fawcett, were widespread and generally held as truth. Bella didn't even pretend to care.

Avery nodded beside him. "No kidding, mate. We can't have a bunch of berks running around blasting people! It's chaos!"

"There already are witches and wizards running around blasting people, Avery," Severus said deliberately, trying to reason with him. Often in these discussions, it was Severus' role to provide an alternate opinion for debate, to play devil's advocate. "The way Crouch sees it, and it certainly seems the Ministry agrees with him, he's fighting fire with fire."

"But there are laws, Severus."

"But those laws have already been broken. Those laws no longer stand."

"But it's unjust, Severus. And it's anarchy, besides, what you are saying. If the government is defunct, as you say, then their role as judge, jury, and hangman is in itself de facto, and thus unjust. And besides," Bella broke her stream to swirl her glass of pumpkin juice, creating an opportunity for someone, anyone, to head her off before she really got started in with her whole "let's throw a coups on my birthday and declare it The Ministry of Magic is Propagandizing, Fraudulent, Inadequate, and a System of Oppression Day" speech, which each of them had heard countless times and new well enough to avoid at all costs.

Thankfully, Wilkes jumped in. "There's nothing we can do about it anyway."

And thankfully, Rosier changed the subject, hissing, "Let's get Crouch, then."

"What do you mean 'get Crouch?' He's secure within the walls of the Ministry! There's no chance--"

"Not that Crouch," Rosier said conspiratorially. "That Crouch." He pointed with his fork at a small, sandy-haired, freckled boy who was laughing with a group of second years at the Hufflepuff table.

Everyone looked to where he was pointing, silent for a minute. Rosier was generally considered the ruse-maker; he had discovered how to sneak books out of the Restricted Section in their second year, and by his third, he had most of the first years convinced he was the Prince of Thebes. He had recruited Rabastan and Regulus, which wasn't really hard considering they were in awe of Bella and practically bred for that sort of thing. But little Crouch?

"All right," Bella said quietly. "How then, Rosier?"

A sneaky smile spread across his face. "Leave it to me."

* * * * *

When Rosier appeared at the next Dueling Club meeting, he was steering what looked like a barrel on legs through the door of their standard dungeon hidey-hole. It was Rosier's turn to provide "subjects," since they had been practicing some pretty nasty curses recently and had run out of excuses to tell Madam Pomfrey.

"What's that you have there, Rosier?" Wilkes asked.

"A barrel full of toads from Jigger's office. Barty, here, was kind enough to help me." The barrel lowered itself, and a sandy head appeared.

Barty's eyes were wide with wonder, looking around the room at the tall, black-cloaked and menacing figures of the Slytherin Dueling Club. Bella had insisted that they act the part; they all had worn their hooded cloaks and stood sneering at Rosier and Crouch when they entered. Except for Rosier, Wilkes, and Avery, they all had long black hair. And except for Rabastan and Regulus, they all towered above the Hufflepuff. Severus watched as Crouch's eyes filled with wonder, then fear, then awe.

"Wow," he whispered. "What is this?"

"Surely you've heard of the Slytherin Dueling Club?" Bella asked haughtily.

Crouch seemed to shrink. "I thought that was a myth."

They all chuckled. Rosier put his hand on Crouch's shoulder. "Perhaps you'd better be getting along, now, Barty," he said, turning toward the door.

"Wait," said Severus, lowering his voice to a threatening tone. "We can't let him just go. He could give away our secret. Expose us to the school. Get us expelled." Severus slowly raised his wand at Crouch, who moved behind Rosier. Looks like he's going to wet himself, Severus thought, a sneer playing across his lips.

"Severus is right, Rosier. We can't let the boy leave that easily." Bella matched Severus' threatening tone and raised her wand as well.

The others nodded and pointed their wands at the now whimpering Barty Crouch, Jr.

"Please, no, please," he sobbed. "I'll do anything. Just please don't kill me!"

Severus smiled. They had surely made a reputation for themselves, even if they were considered a myth.

"He'll have to join, Rosier," Bella sighed after a terribly long pause, lowering her wand slowly. "It's the only way."

"Yes, Bellatrix," Rosier said apologetically, though he was grinning from ear to ear.

"Thank you! Oh, thank you!" the small boy sobbed.

"Get up!" Bella hissed. "You're making a fool of yourself!"

He cowered as Bella moved toward him, but she tucked her wand into her robes and pulled him to his feet. "I don't suppose you know any Unforgivable Curses?"

The small boy's mouth dropped open, and he seemed on the very edge of horror.

"Thought not," she said venomously, "I'll deal with you later, Rosier!" She winked so everyone but little Barty Crouch Jr. could see her.

* * * * *

As it turned out, little Barty was rather keen on the whole thing -- after he got over his initial fear that he was going to die in the dungeons that first night. Bella made it clear to him that if he uttered a word of it to anyone he wouldn't live to see his thirteenth birthday. Barty was prohibited from making eye contact with them in public, let alone chatting them up in the hall. Severus figured that it offered the little kid some excitement that life as an ordinary, humble Hufflepuff didn't offer.

One Saturday morning in spring, as Severus was coldly watching Crouch chat animatedly with his fellow Hufflepuffs, Bella and Lestrange came into the Great Hall, holding hands and looking ecstatic.

"Guess what, Severus?" Bella asked cheerily.

"Hmmm," Severus mumbled, not taking his eyes off Crouch. He was looking for a reason to curse the little bugger, whose normal cheery self had been grating on his nerves for the better part of the year.

"We're engaged!" Bella cried. "Isn't it wonderful?"

Severus' head snapped up to look at them: Bella was smiling radiantly, looking just as beautiful as ever, and Roddy was holding her hand, grinning like a moron. Severus knew he shouldn't be shocked: he had known this day was coming since he was eleven. Still, he felt his heartstrings pull tightly.

"Really?" Severus said, groping for words and trying very hard to appear happy and surprised. Bella had never told Roddy that she and Severus had heard the planning of the betrothal in the Malfoy's drawing room when she was hardly fourteen, and Severus had kept his promise never to tell. "Well, that's great! I'm so -- shocked!"

He shook Lestrange's hand and embraced Bella. It was very odd; she was, for all intents and purposes, his sister. But right then, he felt sharp pangs of loss and jealousy that he couldn't place or shake away.

"We'll be wed in a year. Give the mothers enough time to prepare," Bella said, sitting down at the breakfast table and pouring a cup of juice for each of them. "I was helping Roddy with his Quidditch robes, and then he just got down on his knee and proposed!" Bella laughed. "I was so surprised, I almost said no!"

Severus raised his eyebrow at the sound of his first name, which she hadn't used around other people since her fourth year. Roddy, however, appeared not to notice as he was discussing Quidditch with Higgs, the seeker. They had a big game today against Ravenclaw.

Bella caught his eye, and he realized that he had been glaring at her fiancé. He smirked in mock apology, and then returned his attention to his breakfast.

They ate in silence, occasionally agreeing with Roddy, who had gathered the entire Quidditch team around them at the breakfast table to make sure that they ate a decent meal and all that. They were only a hundred points off the lead, which was currently held by Gryffindor. Avery fell asleep against Severus' shoulder, snoring softly. Bella giggled and kicked him under the table, causing him to spill his orange juice down the front of his robes and leap up, yelling, "Watch that Bludger!" After that, Roddy felt it was best for the team if they just went down to the changing rooms and continued their discussion without distraction.

As soon as they left the Great Hall, Bella's laughter stopped and her smile dropped. "I need to talk to you Severus. Somewhere private." Her voice was low and insistent.

"Of course, Bella," Severus said, grabbing some toast and following her.

She led him up into the north tower, the tallest tower, which was off-limits except when the Astronomy classes met there. He could barely keep up with her; she took the steps of the last steep, spiral staircase two at a time. When she threw open the door and stepped out onto the top of the tower, she spread her arms wide and let out a ferocious growling scream, which Severus was sure would carry all the way down to the Quidditch pitch, across the canopy of the Forbidden Forest, and right to the bar of the Three Broomsticks.

It was very bright on top of the tower, and a cold breeze whipped their cloaks. The grounds spread before them: Severus could see down to the small gamekeeper's hut, over the trees of the Forbidden Forest, across the lake, and down to the Quidditch pitch, which was quickly filling up with students.

"Okay, Bella. This better be good," Severus said, uneasily joking. He threw a piece of his toast, and the breeze took it far across the lawn. "If we miss this match because you're stressing over your Astronomy N.E.W.T., I'll have to hurt you."

Bella turned to face him, and for the first time that Severus could ever remember, she was sobbing hysterically. He dropped the rest of his toast, which scattered in the wind. "What's wrong?" he asked, hurrying over to her.

She slid against a turret, her shoulders heaving. Severus sat down beside her and put an arm across her shoulder, like he had done on the rare occasions when she was upset with her sister, her parents, or her schoolwork. But she had never cried like this before. Never.

She sat there sobbing until a whistle blew, signaling the start of the Quidditch match. She raised her head and dragged the sleeve of her robes across her wet cheeks. "It's -- just -- so -- bloody -- unfair!" she said through clenched teeth. And then things began to click in Severus' head.

"The betrothal?"

Bella nodded, and took a very deep breath. "Narcissa gets by far the best of blood and money in Lucius, Andromeda just gets to run off and do whatever she bloody well pleases, but I get stuck with Lestrange. Bellatrix Lestrange. That doesn't even sound right." She heaved a great sigh. "What am I going to do, Severus? He's so dumb, he wouldn't even know an erkling if it walked up and handed him a lolly."

Severus laughed in spite of himself. "Well, you have two choices: yes or no."

Bella growled. "There are no choices. Children of pureblood families don't make choices, Severus; they follow orders. I can't say no. Look what happened to Andromeda." This was the first conversation they had had in nearly three years in which the mere mention of Andromeda didn't instigate a string of obscenities, and that made Severus quit laughing.

"Then, you'll have to say yes."

Bella threw her hands up in the air. "You're hopeless, Severus!" She stood up abruptly. "You're just -- HOPELESS!" she yelled.

"What do you want from me?" Severus yelled back. "What do you want me to say? 'Just ignore the arse, Bella. He'll go away.' Because he won't, Bella. None of this is going to go away."

"DON'T YOU THINK I KNOW THAT!" She advanced on him so that they were standing just inches apart. Her dark blue eyes flashed malevolently.

"I am perfectly aware that you know that," Severus replied, lowering his voice so as not to escalate the situation. "You're my best friend. I know you better than anyone."

"Well, then start acting like it!" Bella snapped, although most of the anger was gone from her voice. "It's just -- I'm so damned powerless!" She had her hands on her hips and was glaring in the direction of the Quidditch pitch, where green and blue blurbs were flying around. "And then he shows up and proposes like it's the best idea he's ever had. And you know what he said, Severus? Do you know what he said to me?"

Severus shook his head. Her face was twisted up in a hateful grimace that she thankfully kept aimed at the Quidditch pitch.

"He said, 'It's for the best, Bella. It's what everyone wants.' Like that's not the grossest abuse of the English language. For the best? What about what I want?! I can take care of myself, thanks very much!"

"I know you can. You've been doing it for years, ever since I've known you. Lestrange has always just followed you around like a lost puppy."

Her shoulders relaxed, and she turned back to Severus. Her hateful grimace had turned into a sly smile. "Remember when Bertha Jorkins caught him kissing that Fawcett girl behind the greenhouses? He was bragging about it with all of his stupid Quidditch friends, so Bertha thought she could tease him more. You know, she always had a thing for him, despite the fact that she runs the Potter-Black Fan Club. And then you tried to hex him, but Bertha tripped in front of him just then. Everyone thought you cursed her to protect him." Bella grinned.

Severus grinned in return. He thought that it probably would be funny if it had happened to someone other than himself.

"Why did you do it?" she asked. It was a simple enough question.

If only the answer was so simple. "I wanted to spend another detention with Dorcas. You know, nothing says 'I Love Slytherin' like scrubbing the tiles in Moaning Myrtle's loo under the watchful eye of your Head of House," Severus lied.

"Seriously, Severus," Bella said. "Why did you try to hex him?"

He had never told Bella the truth. But as he looked at her set expression, he knew he had been foolish to think she couldn't handle it. "He said that although you were quite a catch, you were frigid, and he'd never get anywhere with you."

She looked shocked for a minute, and then, to Severus' relief, laughed loudly. "Good to know I'm a challenge." She hugged Severus suddenly, sending him off-balance. "Ever since that day on the Hogwarts Express, I knew I could always trust you to tell me the truth."

Severus hugged her back, and kissed the top of her head. Her hair always held the familiar scent of mallowsweet that made Severus feel comfortable. "If we hurry, we can catch the end of the match."

"Oh, don't worry," Bella said, "I doubt we'll be missed." She squeezed him harder. "I'm going to miss you," she said simply, reminding Severus of a time when they were very small and she had crawled into his bed after a bad dream. There were moments when he was with her, even though the time between them was stretching farther and farther, in which Severus felt blissful and arrogantly unconcerned.

"You'd think they would have done something about that after Davey Gudgeon nearly lost his eye," Bella said wondrously.

Severus let go of her and turned around to see what she was talking about. Below them, three figures were patrolling the perimeter of the Whomping Willow. The two tallest ones looked familiar.

Bella raised a hand as a visor over her eyes. "That looks like my cousin, the stupid tosser," Bella said, "with Potter and that titchy Pettigrew kid." And sure enough, it was.

"I always knew they had a death wish, the way they carry on," Severus scowled. "And you know what they say about Gryffindors?"

"They'll even excuse suicide as brave under favorable conditions," Bella answered. "Bloody gits."