My Mate

“Don’t make me kill you Lucius.”

Narcissa jerked her head around to the shadowy form of Severus where he stood off to her left barely visible in the darkness.

“Severus?” Lucius bit out. Then he paused as realization dawned on his face. “Well. I really am surrounded by traitors…and adulterers.” An ugly look passed over his face.

“You want to duel then? Settle this once and for all? You know I never was convinced that you were still completely loyal to the Dark Lord and all this time I was right.”

“You were a fool.” Severus snapped. “And I was thinking more along the lines of our fists rather than our wands.”

“How dreadfully archaic.” Lucius drawled. “Wands are much more civilized.”

“But it takes so much of the pleasure away from sinking my fist into your face and beating you to a pulp.”

“You truly think you could beat me?” Lucius laughed.

“A pansy like you? Definitely.” The potion master’s voice was arrogant and instantly quelled the other man’s laughter.

“Fine.” Lucius ground out. “Fists it is, but by the time I’m finished with you, you’ll be breathing out of your arse.”

They both warily put their wands away and Severus stepped into the tiny clearing.

“Severus, no!” Narcissa cried weakly.

“Quiet Narcissa.” He snapped.

Lucius gaze zeroed in on the battered woman. “He was the ‘lover’ wasn’t he? You actually wanted this greasy bat who degrades himself by working as a mere teacher for that old fool? You would choose him over me?” The emphasis he put on the last word made it apparent that he considered himself a far greater catch.

“He’s a hundred times the man you are! And we had something that a monster like you wouldn’t understand.” She hissed venomously.

“We had love. You don’t know the first thing about love. You or your vile Voldemort. That’s why we were able to defeat you. Because we loved, which is something far more powerful than just simple hatred.”

Severus was gaping at her and Lucius was glaring.

“You think he actually loved you? He may have been a traitor but I still know him well enough to know he isn’t capable of love.” Her husband sneered.

Narcissa paled as the jab hit a soft spot.

“Well now you get to watch while I wipe the ground with your ‘lover’. Then I’ll make you watch while I kill him. Maybe I’ll even torture him a little first.”

Severus growled under his breath. “Stop nattering and let’s get on with it.”

“Be careful!” Narcissa said desperately.

“Gladly.” Lucius lunged, but Severus sidestepped and clipped his chin, landing him on his arse in the dirt. Snarling, the blond leapt up and tackled the potions master.

Narcissa alternately squeezed her eyes shut and then peeked out again to see who was winning before a brutal punch would send them flying shut again.

Severus had a cut lip and a bruising eye, but Lucius was getting the worst of it. It had quickly become apparent that despite Snape’s illusion of a skinny stick, he was actually lean and muscular and was a better brawler than Lucius.

“You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do this.” Severus ground out as he slammed his opponent’s head into the forest floor. They rolled closer to the tree where Narcissa was tied up and she took advantage of the opportunity and slammed her foot into his crotch.

The high-pitched scream was music to her ears.

The fight continued, the meaty sounds of fists connecting and grunts of pain were the only sounds that broke the silence. The two men had stood and broke away from each other panting when they heard Narcissa.

“Lucius.”

He turned and got a hard right hook to his nose from his wife. He hit the ground, howling and trying to stem the fountain of blood that gushed from his face.

Narcissa knelt down next to him. “Be grateful that I don’t want to dirty my hands by inflicting the same pain on you that you did to me.” She plucked off the remaining piece of frayed rope that dangled from her wrist, both of which were cut and bloody.

“Well, I don’t have any such concerns.” Severus said and proceeded to pound Lucius into the pulp he had promised. His face was so swollen it was almost unrecognizable and there was blood everywhere.

“Not so superior now are you Lucius?” Narcissa asked quietly when the potions master finally deemed he had done enough. She had picked up his wand and pocketed it just in case.

He spat some blood onto the ground and weakly dragged himself to his feet. “This isn’t over.”

“Yes it is.” Severus said, training his own wand on the other wizard. “You’re going to Azkaban and this time, there won’t be any weaseling out of it. But right now I would love nothing more than to kill you, so don’t tempt me.”

“Didn’t work out quite the way you’d planned, did it Lucius?” A wavery voice wheezed.

All three spun around to see a hunched old man walk towards them. His cloak enveloped him so well that the only thing visible in the moonlight was his curled white hands. His wand was already pointing at them.

“Diffamer!” Lucius exclaimed and would have looked relieved if the condition of his face had allowed a person to make the distinction and pointed to Severus. “Kill him.”

Severus switched his wand toward the old man. “Don’t try it.”

“You bungled the whole thing Lucius.” He said between hacks, I told you it wasn’t worth bothering, but I helped you anyway.” His voice lowered menacingly. “And here I am to help yet again.”

Lucius turned his head in time to see Diffamer’s wand smoothly move left.

“Avada Kedavra!”

Narcissa’s scream echoed through the forest.