Broken Vow

Chapter Three

The night sky glowed a shade of emerald green. The Dark Mark still hung in the air, casting an eerie green glow over the rooftops and throwing long twisted shadows across the road. Severus watched from Leila's front window as the dark outlines of several ant-like ministry wizards scrambled around the Prewetts' front lawn, shooting different spells at the Mark. It can't be banished, he thought with a smirk. He turned away from the window and returned his attention to Leila's things, which were flying around the house, packing themselves neatly into suitcases. Why a witch always needs so much stuff was beyond him; all a wizard needs is his wand. He hadn't bothered to turn on any lights; he didn't need to supervise his charms like an amateur. Darkness was comforting for Severus; he could lose himself in it.

A loud knocking startled him. Someone was at the front door.

"Finite incantem," he hissed, and the flying objects dropped to the floor. He stood shock still in the middle of the dark living room, waiting.

The knocking continued.

No one's home, Severus thought desperately, go away.

They didn't go away. Instead, he heard "Alohamora" and the lock click open.

"Anyone home?" echoed a professional sounding voice.

Ministry wizards, Severus thought, most likely Aurors...Bring it on. He stepped around the corner out into the dark entry hall, stowing his wand in his pocket.

"Can I do something for you gentlemen?" he said slowly and calmly, carefully avoiding the moonlight pooling on the carpet from the open front door. There were only two Aurors, each tall, strong and well-built. Severus would have been intimidated at the sight of them standing in the light with their wands drawn, were it not for the frightened look on their faces as they peered into the darkness, looking for who had spoken.

"According to our records, this is the residence of a witch by the name of Leila Grant. We need to know if she witnessed anything strange tonight," said one of the Aurors, addressing the darkness.

"It is normally considered very rude to break into someone's house in the middle of the night," Severus continued in the same methodical tone, as if he hadn't heard.

"This is madness," muttered the other wizard in frustration. "Lumos!"

The corridor was bathed in light, and Severus was exposed.

"You!" one of the Aurors breathed.

The light only lasted for a split second, because Severus was ready.

"Expelliarmus!" he cried, and both the wizards' wands went skittering to the floor. Darkness enveloped them once more. Thoroughly enjoying himself, he flicked his wand and the door slammed shut, cutting off the moonlight. He clicked his tongue mockingly. "Bad move boys, turning on the lights like that. We all know how much I like the darkness. Now, let's have a little fun...Imperio!"

There was another flash of light, then darkness once more. Severus didn't need to see to know that the curse had hit its targets; he could feel them; two foreign presences inside his mind.

You found nothing out of the ordinary here, he thought forcefully, and could feel the Aurors' blank agreement as his instructions were absorbed. You talked to Miss Grant, who had been sleeping and saw nothing. Now run along. Severus watched them with grim satisfaction as they did just that. Once their task had been completed, the curse would slowly wear off, and they would remember nothing. He turned and walked back to the front window. Only the smallest vestiges of guilt remained in Severus's mind about using the unforgivables. It was self-preservation; get them before they get you. In his mind, it was justified, not unforgivable.

Leila's suitcases resumed their self-packing with a flick of Severus's wand. He stood, a dark silhouette against the window, oblivious to the objects whizzing past his head. He gazed up at the dark mark and in its blank eyes saw a silent accusation, which chilled him to the bone.

* * *

Severus put Leila's suitcases down in the entrance hall of his cottage with a muffled thud. Damn heavy suitcases.

"Leila?" he called.

"In here," her voice echoed from the general direction of the kitchen.

"I brought as much stuff as I could," he said as he walked towards her, leaving the bags in the hallway. "If I've forgotten anything, I can always go-"

He broke off abruptly as he stepped around the corner and into the kitchen. Two steaming mugs of tea sat on the table. Across from one sat Leila, across from the other sat...

"Lucius," Severus breathed. His blood had suddenly turned to ice. Why would he....She couldn't know... None of it made sense. His Leila, calmly drinking tea with Lucius Malfoy, a Death Eater, a man who would kill her in an instant and not look back. Since when have you been so noble? said a nagging voice in his head. He wanted to run to her, protect her from the monster she had unwittingly allowed in, but he was frozen in place.

"What, no warm welcome for an old family friend?" Lucius drawled, standing up slowly and extending his hand. Severus just stared at it.

"Lucius was in town and decided to pop by for a surprise visit," Leila said brightly. "You didn't tell me you were friends with the Malfoys."

"I'm sure there are many things Severus hasn't told you," Lucius said evenly, his eyes never leaving Severus, "or me."

"Outside!" Severus said suddenly, feeling the need to do something. Lucius had already said too much, and silent panic was starting to rise in Severus.

"Severus!" reproved Leila.

"I'm tired and am in no mood for guests," he explained simply, trying to keep his voice even.

"Very well." Lucius gathered his cloak and made his way to the front door, Severus close behind.

"Well, well," Lucius drawled into the cold night air once the door had been firmly closed behind them, "she is exquisite, I don't blame you. The Dark Lord makes a point to know everything about his followers but this....this was unexpected."

"You came here to what, spy on me?"

"No, I came to see if you were alright after what happened with the Prewett girl earlier, and obviously you're not. Have you lost your mind? She's muggle born." Lucius spoke through gritted teeth.

Waves of disgust washed over Severus and he took an involuntary step backward. "You're lying."

"You didn't know?" Lucius laughed dryly. "Have you ever asked?"

It was true. In six months Severus had never bothered to ask about her family. It hadn't seemed important. No Mudblood would ever dream of pursuing him.

"She's a Mudblood. And you let her into your house, spreading her filth over everything she touches....or maybe you like it," Lucius growled, regarding Severus with malice. "You bask in it; letting the filth consume you..."

"Shut up," Severus snapped. "You know me; you know I'd do no such thing."

"Do I?" Lucius snarled. "I thought I did, but you always seem to surprise. You must have known we'd find out eventually. You know how much the Dark Lord detests distractions, especially those of the Mudblood variety."

Desperation was boiling up inside Severus. No one can know, no one can know...He grabbed Lucius by the front of his cloak and shoved him back against the stone wall of the cottage.

"If you or anyone else brings any harm to Leila, Mudblood or not, you'll have me to reckon with," he snarled. Lucius just stared at him, straight-faced.

"Not if we reckon with you first," he said coolly, then disapparated with a loud crack, leaving Severus to grapple with empty air.

He rested his forehead against the cool stone of the cottage wall, breathing heavily.

Deep inside him he'd probably known all along that something like this would happen, given time. It never worked to live a double life. You get tired and slip up...Severus sighed. This slip up would prove to be disastrous. If Lucius revealed what he now knew...Leila wouldn't stand a chance. Neither would he, for that matter. Maybe now that one side knew the truth it was time the other learned it, too.

Ah, but she didn't tell you about her dirty blood, said that nagging voice.

The realization was like a heavy blow to the stomach.

She's a Mudblood...

Severus stepped back and gazed at the light shining through the window. A strange emotion washed over him. It wasn't anger, like he expected, it was sorrow.

She'd concealed the truth from him, yes, but for good reason. If he'd have known, he wouldn't have looked twice at her. If he'd have known, the past six months wouldn't have happened. He'd have nothing to live for except the black mark on his forearm. She made him feel alive, like no one else ever could. And yet she was muggle-born. Maybe...just this once, blood didn't matter.

But it mattered to so many others. She could be killed with no remorse because of her heritage - just another nameless, faceless Mudblood. Without knowing, he'd put her in so much danger.

He slowly walked back into the cottage.

"Severus?" Leila asked, stepping out of the kitchen, a concerned look on her face.

He simply gave her a sad smile and continued on to his bedroom, closing the door firmly behind him. Leila was left alone in the kitchen, staring down at the two steaming mugs of tea.