Invenio Cognatus

Chapter 2

Lucius bowed his head before the sinister figure draped in black as the house elf who had announced him scampered out of the study. "Lucius," the dark voice slithered across the blond man's skin. "What returns you so quickly to my side? I thought our discussions were through for the evening." Red, slitted eyes narrowed as they appraised the man before them. The fire crackled and popped as Lucius felt the Dark Lord's penetrating gaze wash over him. "Have a seat." Lucius approached the offered seat and sat across from his master on the low burgundy leather sofa. The powerful dark-haired man with serpentine eyes leaned back in his tall straight-backed chair as he calmly waited for Lucius to justify his presence. Only a very select few knew where Voldemort's manor was in Ireland, and even fewer were allowed to visit without an expressed invitation.

"Lord, it is done. By this time, my wife has drawn her last breath. Now, no one outside of the Death Eater circle has any knowledge of my daughter's existence." Lucius had left the Malfoy Manor as soon as she had lost consciousness. He had taken immense pleasure in killing her with his fists for all her disrespectful behavior throughout the years. Insolent wench. He would have enjoyed watching her die but time was not on his side. He had preparations to make. The wizarding world could not uncover the truth about Narcissa's death. Draco would have to be informed eventually, but not immediately, Lucius surmised. His son had been a little too attached to her for his tastes. Perhaps after he returned to Hogwarts and was immersed in his studies, his friends, and that quidditch nonsense.

"Yes, you have been quite thorough, Lucius. I am very pleased. Your wife was the last loose end." Lord Voldemort poured himself a glass of bourbon from a decanter on the table in front of him. He was pleased Lucius had delivered news of Narcissa's death personally. If her demise became common knowledge too early, it might cast unwanted suspicions on Lucius before the first phase was completed. And timing was of the essence. Lord Voldemort was very eager for the Malfoy daughter to return. He had great plans for her. Caught up in his excitement, the Dark Lord began to slip into Parselmouth as he continued. "You work quicker than I had expected. Now we mussst begin to make preparationsss for Adriana'sss return. I am very anxioussss to have her at my sssside."

Lucius's lips curved up into a sneer as the fire threw harsh shadows onto his pale face. "And so you shall, my Lord. All the Malfoys will faithfully serve you. And if they do not... they will be dealt with accordingly."

.................

A loud 'pop' disrupted the eerie quiet as Severus Snape apparated outside the entrance gate to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Deftly removing his Death Eater mask, he began striding toward the castle. The luminescent orb in the sky bathed the grounds in a soft, silver light. It was after midnight and the Forbidden Forest was oddly still. Only the cold wind in the trees and Severus's footsteps on the snow-covered ground could be heard. Severus's mind replayed the events of the dark revel earlier that evening as he approached the castle. He was relieved it was the holidays and few students were around as he stalked toward the Headmaster's office. "Hershey almond kisses," he hissed as he glared at the gargoyle, blaming it for the ridiculous passwords Albus came up with.

As he entered the Headmaster's office, he noted a pot of tea and two mugs on the coffee table in the sitting area off to the side. Albus was nowhere in sight and the Headmaster paintings were snoring, so Severus poured himself a cup and settled himself into the chair closest to the fire. Fawkes, Albus's faithful companion, was perched in his usual spot and after giving a small chirp acknowledging the familiar Professor, returned to his slumber. As the steam rolled off the hot tea, Severus stared into the fire and contemplated his next move. In light of recent developments, the Order would have to be informed of the situation.

"Ah, Severus. Glad to see you returned to us without mishap." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he took the seat across from Severus. He poured himself a cup of tea before continuing. "What news do you have for us?" he inquired as he added three lumps of sugar and stirred. Severus mentally shuddered at the Headmaster's outrageous sweet tooth.

"Voldemort finally disclosed the existence of the Malfoy daughter. He has begun to make preparations for her 'unveiling'," Severus sneered contemptuously as he scowled into his tea. "He did not tell us what dark magics were used, only the nature of the concealment spell. Our only hope in getting to her first is if the dark spell releases its hold on her before the Dark Lord is prepared." Severus slammed down his cup in frustration, spilling hot tea onto his hand. "Bloody hell!" He rose quickly and began to pace around Dumbledore's office. With his hands clasped tightly behind his back, a fierce glower on his face, and black robes swirling behind him, he resembled a barely contained feral animal. His frustration leaked into his voice and tension thrummed through his body as he continued his report. "The concealment charm was derived from some of the darkest, most powerful magics. Ancient magics that have been lost throughout the ages. Currently the dark spell is dormant. It cannot be traced or detected until it completes its cycle. Once the spell releases her, it will leave a magical signature on her person that will be traceable for up to twenty-four hours. The spell was cast to terminate on her and Draco's seventeenth birthday." Severus abruptly stopped pacing and stared intensely into the flames.

"This spring. So then it is as we feared. There is no possible way to locate her before then," Albus sighed resignedly. That had been his belief and fear for the past year. The Dark Lord had taken an unexpected interest in Adriana Malfoy almost immediately after his return. If the spell had been traceable, Dumbledore suspected Voldemort would have attempted it long before now. The Headmaster started to stroke his beard, as he was often want to do when things took an unfavorable turn, and contemplated other viable options. Over the crackling of the flames, he heard the Severus's faint reply. "If only I had been at the casting... I might have been able to modify the spell..." he trailed off as he became lost in his memories; looking for a sign, any sign, that he could have prevented this.

"Severus, we have been over this. You had not been in the Dark Order long enough to be trusted. And pushing the matter would have made the Dark Lord suspicious. You did all that you could for Narcissa. We still might have a chance to find her first. Thanks to you, they'll be searching for her in the wrong place," Dumbledore tried to reassure his Potions Professor, knowing that it would fail. Albus understand Severus Snape better than the taciturn man understood himself. Since Narcissa's mysterious visit sixteen years ago, Severus had taken it upon himself to keep her daughter safely anonymous. After the Triwizard Tournament, and the Dark Lord's alarming interest in Adriana Malfoy, Albus and Severus realized she wouldn't be safe unless they found her first. For the past year and half the Potions Professor had fervently searched and studied forbidden Dark Arts tomes, desperately trying to discern the exact spells placed on her. And now, it looked as if all his efforts had been in vain. His despair warred with his determination to prove Narcissa's faith in him right.

Narcissa Black and Severus Snape had been very close while attending Hogwarts. So close, in fact, that the Headmaster had been surprised when Narcissa accepted the proposal of Lucius Malfoy in her seventh year. Albus believed that her acceptance had played a large part in Severus's decision to join Voldemort's following. After all, Lucius Malfoy was a Death Eater and had gotten everything Severus had been denied. Severus used his cunning, power, and skill with potions brewing to move up the ranks. What the young Professor witnessed and participated in once he became a member of the inner circle, Dumbledore could only imagine. It tore at Severus's psyche and almost pushed him to the point of no return. The promising, untainted boy had become a cynical, cruel, tormented man. He struggled between the horrors he witnessed and the seduction of the Dark Arts. The Headmaster didn't know what final straw broke the proverbial camel's back, but one cold October evening found Severus Snape in Dumbledore's office searching for redemption. Determined to bring an end to the Dark Lord and his fanatical followers, Severus was inducted into the Order that night and thus began his dual role as a Death Eater and spy.

"It's not much of a hope, Headmaster," Severus retorted bitterly. He let down his guard for a moment as he turned from the fire to nod at Albus. "But it's all we have. I will take my leave of you. We can devise a strategy at the next Order meeting." It broke Albus's heart to observe the toll Severus's double-life was taking on him. His shoulders were slightly bowed in weariness and his eyes were black; the empty pools of one who had seen too much. . In the blink of an eye, Severus's shuttered expression returned as he straightened and turned around quickly, silently striding out the Headmaster's office with robes flapping behind him.