Angelica's Sorrow

A/N - Lindsay - Author grins - I\'m glad you agree - seriously, it\'s one of my favorites so far. This story is taking on a life of it\'s own. It\'s going to be a lot longer than my original basic outline.

Deb - I really am not ignoring your pleas. I have to let the characters go where they want, they just won\'t listen to me anymore. Just remember Draco doesn\'t know for sure who Hermonie loves - it\'s only his conclusion and there is more than one kind of love!
Remember what Dumbledore always says, Patience, my friend. Patience.


CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Draco had been confused for the first thirty-six or so hours. Sleep occupied a great deal of those hours, but it had been natural, not induced by spells or potions. From the brief conversations Severus held with him during the awake periods, his mind appeared intact. He hoped to come to a firmer conclusion before Narcissa\'s return, so he waited by Draco\'s bed. Albus was off informing the other three families what was required to break the spell, accompanied by Mr. Potter. Severus politely declined the invitation to join them. He\'d had quite enough heartache in the last few days and didn\'t care to subject himself to any more. However, if anything went wrong, Potter would pay dearly. Even if he was the boy wonder.

Ginny Weasley was helping Professor McGonagall in her classroom. Minerva was still straightening and repairing the various small items that had been damaged. Thankfully, she was almost done.

\"Professor, may I ask you something?\"

\"Of course, Miss Weasley.\"

\"Well, I\'m thrilled that Draco is going to be OK, but I\'m a little confused. I didn\'t really understand Professor Dumbledore when he explained what a - whatever kind of spell it was. He said it was some kind of strip?\"

\"Mobius Strip?\"

\"Yeah, what is that?\"

Minerva paused in her labors and sat in one of the student chairs. \"Come take a seat for a moment while I think of a way to explain. It\'s not an easy concept without a model and it\'s better when you make it yourself. Here, take this page of parchment.\" She handed her a blank one. \"Now starting at the top tear a narrow strip down one of the sides. Good, hold it in your hands horizontally, give it a twist and join the ends together.\" Minerva drew her wand and joined the ends. \"Take a quill and start drawing a line down the center of the strip until it ends.\"

Ginny complied and after a short time looked up in amazement. \"It never ends, it just keeps going and it\'s on both sides.\"

\"Very good. Now let go of it and see what happens.\"

\"It makes a twisted figure eight.\"

\"And now you know the importance of the wand movement that accompanied the counter curse. You reversed the path Voldemort set for him and the others.\"

\"Wow, I did that?\"

\"Yes, you and the love Mr. Malfoy holds for you. His mother was chosen at first, but I\'m rather glad she was unavailable for a few days. I hope this restores some confidence in your abilities. Your first year wasn\'t your fault, you know.\"

\"Thank you, Professor.\"

\"Not at all, Miss Weasley. I am here to teach you, am I not?\" Their laughter echoed out the door and down the hall.

Draco stirred, bringing Snape out of his musings. He sat forward in his chair, gaining a better angle to watch his eyes. They seemed focused this time.

\"Mr. Malfoy. Can you see me?\"

Grey eyes blinked a few times as the head turned to the sound of his voice. Draco attempted to speak as his mouth moved, he cleared his throat and tried again, \"Yes, Professor. What happened? How did I end up here?\" His eyes widened and he tried to sit up and failed. \"Is the battle over?\"

\"Rest easy for now. It will be quite some time, I imagine before you are able to move about entirely on your own. The battle is over and the good guys won. How could it be any different with the wonderful \'boy who lived\' on our side?\"

\"He\'s not so awful, you know.\"

\"Really. When did you become such a fan of Mr. Potter?\" Severus wanted to see if Draco was able to draw freely on the memories that so recently had been returned.

\"After I refused the dark mark and my father - well, I joined D.A. and we practiced together a lot. I got to know him, Ron and Hermonie. For Gryffindors they\'re not half bad.\"

\"Not to mention Miss Weasley.\"

Snape hoped the news of Mr. Weasley\'s death, which would not be delivered by him, wouldn\'t upset him too much.

Draco flushed. \"I don\'t know what you mean, Professor.\"

\"I\'m sure you don\'t, Mr. Malfoy. I want you to rest while I get Madam Pomfrey. She\'ll want to check you over now that you\'re conscious.\"

Severus stood and walked around the screen to Poppy\'s office. He knocked lightly before opening the door.

\"He\'s awake, Poppy, and seems coherent. You may want to change your shoes before you give him a headache. He hasn\'t really heard anything for quite some time, wouldn\'t want to deafen the poor child.\"

He swore he heard a growl as he closed the door. A smirk appeared as he headed for the library.

An owl found him a short time later, looking for some books that might interest Angelica. She seemed very interested in some of the passages he quoted. Severus planned to read aloud to her if she wanted. He was sure her strong opinions would make for some very interesting arguments on some of the more controversial subjects. Severus was actually looking forward to his next visit. He placed a few books on a table with other selections and removed the letter.

\"Thank you. I\'m afraid I have nothing for you. If you visit the owlery I\'m sure there will be something there to your taste. No reply at this time.\" The bird left with a flip of its tail.

It was from Albus. Severus carefully seated himself, then changed his mind about opening it there. The privacy of his chambers was preferred, the books could wait. He left them where they were and stalked out the library doors. Irma Pince was slightly affronted at the mess he left.


A knock sounded at his door several hours later.

\"To answer or not to answer, that is the question?\" he muttered to himself.

Another one sounded, more insistent.

\"Oh, bloody hell. What does a man have to do around here to get a little privacy. So, I missed dinner. Does she have to make such a damned nuisance of herself?\"

Severus, assuming it was Poppy, threw open the door.

\"Oh, you startled me.\" Narcissa stood in front of his door, a hand on her chest.

\"I\'m sorry. I thought you were someone I didn\'t particularly want to see.\"

\"I can come back later if you like.\"

\"No, it\'s not you. Please, come in.\" He moved to the side, holding his hand out in invitation.

\"If you\'re sure I\'m not bothering you. I\'ve only just come from the hospital ward and it\'s marvelous to see Draco awake and actually talking. I needed to express my appreciation.\"

\"Believe me, Narcissa, you are more than welcome. Have a seat, would you like a cup of tea or a glass of wine?\"

\"Wine I think. I feel like celebrating.\" She chose one of the chairs in front of the fireplace.

\"Red or white?\"

\"Red. A very good, very rich red.\"

\"Your wish is my command, my lady.\"

He moved over to the fairly well stocked bar and chose one he thought she might like. Severus poured two glasses of wine and handed her one as he sat in the chair facing hers.

\"How was your trip?\" He inquired as she took her first sip.

Her expression fell slightly. \"He is dead, Severus. They located his body not too far from the estate in France.\"

\"I will express condolences if that is what you need.\"

\"No. I would be lying if I said I grieved, but he was the father of my son. How do I tell Draco his father is dead?\"

\"Very carefully. He still hasn\'t come to terms with the way Lucius treated him after he refused the mark. I\'m afraid it wouldn\'t take much at this point to push Draco in the same direction.\"

\"Yes, I can see how it would be a great shock. I don\'t think Draco realizes that Lucius only loved himself.\"

She uncrossed her legs, moved one of her feet and kicked a waded parchment out from under her chair.

Severus froze, \'That\'s where it had gone.\'

\"What\'s this?\" Narcissa inquired as she picked it up.

\"Good news actually. It\'s a letter from Albus, the counter spell was successfully used on the other three victims.\"

He took it from her and placed it in a pocket.

\"Uh-huh. If it\'s such good news, why was it wadded up and thrown under a chair?\"

Her eyebrow could arch almost as well as his own.

\'Think fast Severus, old boy. The bridge is about to burn out from under you and it\'s a long way down.\'

\"Well, to be honest I was disgruntled with Poppy. You don\'t realize what a - nag she can be when she thinks I\'m not taking care of myself. It happened to be in my hand earlier. I thought it was her at the door when you knocked. I missed dinner.\"

Well, all of it was true, just slightly rearranged. Hopefully, it was enough.

\"I happen to agree with her. You are now the one with the \'careworn\' look and believe me, that\'s being kind.\"

\"The last few weeks have been rather trying.\" He paused, would now be a good time?

Severus placed his untouched glass of wine on the side table and took her free hand in both of his.

\"I know you have only recently received confirmation of Lucius\' death, would it be too soon to ask if you would allow me to court you?\"

He looked her in the eyes with what he hoped was sincerity and the love of a good friend. It was all he had left.

\"I got the impression the other day, that something like this was on your mind.\"

\"Your question opened the door to the possibility. I do plan for marriage to be the eventual outcome, but I don\'t want to rush you or make you feel pressured. I merely wanted to get my request in before you are deluged with other offers.\"

\"Me, you\'ve got to be joking. I\'m a thirty-n - something widow of a Death Eater with a teenage son.\"

He returned the eyebrow. \"I am well aware of your age, my dear. Mine is the same, remember? You greatly underestimate yourself. Just because Lucius was a fool who didn\'t realize what he had, don\'t assume all men are blind. Any other man would treasure you as the jewel you are.\"

Narcissa laughed, \"You are good for the ego, Severus. I think we should let Draco get used to the idea of his father\'s death first. That will take a great deal of my energy for awhile.\"

\"Yes, but I could assist you and he would grow accustomed to seeing us together. He already knows we\'ve been friends for a long time. We wouldn\'t have to make it public until we were sure he could handle the knowledge. Until then it would remain between us.\"

She nodded, \"That would give us time to see if we can regain what we had in our youth, it might work. Goodness, I\'m tired. I think I\'ll check on Draco one last time and retire for the evening.\"

Placing her own glass on the table, she rose as did Severus.

\"Will you allow me to accompany you?\"

\"That would be lovely.\"

Narcissa waited while he closed and warded the door.

\"Ever vigilant, aren\'t you?\" she teased lightly.

\"Too many pranksters around here nursing imaginary wounds. My lady?\" He offered her his arm.

This time there was no hesitation on her part as she took his arm.

\'Things aren\'t turning out too badly after all,\' she thought as they made their way to the hospital wing.

\"If it doesn\'t bother you too much, I would like to know more of how they found Lucius.\"

\"They traced his wand. It had been used in the last few weeks,\" she stated.

\"He survived that long?\"

\"No, I didn\'t actually see his body but apparently he had been dead for quite some time.\"

Severus felt a slight shudder go through her at the mental image.

\"Who used his wand?\" he asked.

\"A local merchant. He found Lucius on one of his deliveries shortly after he died. It took him this long to work up the nerve to use the wand.\"

\"Why did the Ministry wish you to travel to France? It appears they had all the answers.\"

\"They wanted me to drop the wards around the estate, so it could be searched. They were afraid of what might be inside since he was headed there. I remained until they were done.\"

\"Did they find anything?\"

\"No, thank goodness. It\'s always been one of my favorites and that might have ruined it for me.\"

\"Do you plan a funeral?\"

\"A very private one, when Draco has recovered enough to attend.\"

\"You will require quite a bit of money for that, my offer still stands.\"

\"Arthur assured me a few days ago the accounts will be released shortly, so it shouldn\'t be a problem.\"

\"You\'re assuming the red tape spell has been broken. Even Arthur can\'t work miracles. It may take longer than you think.\"

\"I\'ll let you know.\"

\"You\'d better, or I will be quite unhappy. You wouldn\'t want that, now would you?\"

\"No, I would not like to see you unhappy.\"

They reached the door of the hospital wing and he left her there after a brief kiss on the forehead. Severus felt the need for some fresh air and headed outside to the lake.

\'I\'ve crossed the bridge and not sure I want to be on the other side, but there is no way back. Too bad there isn\'t a thunderstorm tonight. I need one.\'