Linuxia

Hey, I forgot to put something at the beginning of last Chapter for you to ignore. So here it is! These chapters are shorter than I planned, but it's really hard to find the breaks in this story . . . *blush*

Let me know if you hate it or what-not. I actually have a lot of this story done, but I figure three or four chapters should be enough to start, hm?


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The next morning, her body screamed in pain as she rose from her pallet. Kili was waiting for her. “Master says you is to come to Master immediately! You has a visitor.”
“Okay, Okay . . .hss.” She dressed, all too aware of the blood on her robes.
“Why has you not cleaned your robes!!?”
“I haven’t had time.”
“Master will be displeased.”

“Good Lord, Linuxia! Have you no self-respect?” Lucius Malfoy bellowed. “You have a visitor arriving shortly, and you are not fit to be seen! EXPLAIN yourself!”
“If you please, Master, I was cleaning yesterday and they were torn, Master.”
“By what?” The answer was automatic.
“Young Master, Master.”
“Explain.”
“He brought me into his rooms, Master . . .” She paused, but Lucius waved her on, irritated. “And bade me to use his mirror. While I was there, seeing myself for thest tst time, he snuck up behind me . . . kissed me, Master. I was so shocked, Master . . . I didn’t know what to do. He . . . He pushed me to the floor when I said that you would kill me for that, and he . . . he . . . I don’t know the word for what he did, Master.”
“He did what? With a Servant!!!?”
“Master, I did nothing to egg him on about it.”
“Have you no better robes to wear?”
“Mistress only gives me a set at a time. I’ve worn these since I was eleven, Master.”
“Perhaps I have something . . . KILI!” The house-elf scurried in. “Take Linuxia to my chambers,” He turned to the girl. “The old trunk by my bed. There should be a set of cotton black robes. Take those. DO NOT TOUCH the black box or the silk robes in the box with the cotton ones.”
“Yes, Master.”

The box was easy to find, dark green with a silvered trim, the initials LOM inscribed. And the robes were easy to find as well. She longed to touch the silk ones, in dark green, black, and blood red, but knew better. As she tried on the robes, she noticed another mirror, by Master’s bed. Might as well see how the robes fit. It was nearly a perfect match, a little long in the sleeves, but that was easily hemmed. She saw a red mark on her face, and quickly returned to the parlor, making sure to shut the box, and take the used robes to the laundry, where they could be torn to be used as rags for the endless polishing and cleaning of Malfoy Manor.

There was a dark man sitting in the parlor with Master when she arrived. “Master, shall I get some refreshments for our guest?” The dark one’s eyes narrowed dangerously.
“Master, Lucius? Perhaps you SHOULD send her for refreshments while you explain?” The dark one’s tone was dangerous.
“Go, girl.” Master ordered. Linuxia left, wondering what her existence had done now.

“Severus, it was Narcissa-”
“Never mind that! You are her husband! Have you no control over the wench?” Snape snapped at Lucius. “I left her here to be raised as you would your own daughter!”
“Yes, but Nar-”
“Were those NOT my EXACT WORDS?” Lucius was wondering why he was letting Severus yell at him. Or rather, use that voice to make Lucius wish he were yelling?
“Severus, try to understand!” Lucius cried, pounding his fist into the chair’s ebony arm. “Narcissa whines at the slightest inconvenience. Imagine, if you will, two straight years of it!”
“So beat some sense into her! I trusted you with my child, my onlood,ood, Lucius, and I find you have forced her into servitude, most likely your son has had his way with her . . .”
“My son would NEVER ‘have his way’ with a . . . a . . . SERVANT!!” A blatant lie. And worse, Severus could tell. There was a knock on the door. “COME IN!”
“Master, I’ve brought some of the wine you save for friends.”
“Excellent choice, Linuxia. However . . .” Lucius heaved a great fake sigh. “I sadly cannot partake it. Do entertain Mr. Snape while I am out looking for something.” With that, Lucius left.

“Sir? Some wine?” Linuxia took the bottle and began to pour. An elegant, flawless hand stopped her.
“I will get it. Please, sit.” Linuxia obeyed, unsure of herself. “Have you always been here?”
“Most of my life, Sir. I was left by my father. That’s all I could beat out of Dobby.”
“Ah.” He poured himself some wine and sipped. Cocking an eyebrow, he asked, “Have you ever had wine?”
“Never, Sir. Wine is for guests.” He extended the chalice to her.
“Try it. You may find you like it.” Linuxia obeyed, and giggled as fruitd spd spices played over her tongue. She smiled for the first time in a while.
“It tastes like spring, Sir.” She explained, handing the chalice carefully back.
“It does tend to do that.”

Lucius re-entered, carrying a tattered letter. “Here, girl.” As an afterthought, “You CAN read?”
“Yes, Master.”

Lucius,
Forgive my haste and my ill-preparation, but tempus fugit. This is my only child, Samara, and she needs a place far from Snape Manor to grow. Keep her s and and raise her as your beloved cousin or some such. I know not, nor care not what excuse you use. You were always better at that than I. I cannot tell you more at the moment.

Her mother was not well liked by my family, and the child favors her too much to lie about it. Keep her as you would Draco, I beg you. She is the most precious thing in the world to both her mother and I. Now just I, I suppose, now that dearest Lupe is dead from Samara’s birthing. The infection lingered longer than both of us thought it would. I digress, for I must be brief. I must beg one further thing of you, and this last will be difficult, given your position among the Order, but it is of more import than even I imagined, according to the Last Will and Testament of my dear wife:

NEVER ALLOW HER EXISTENCE TO BECOME KNOWN TO VOLDEMORT.

She would be in g dan danger if that were EVER to pass. I must still my pen and fly. The manor is beset. I beg this of you, Lucius. My kinsman, my Sub-Lord. . . my friend.
-Severus-

“Master? This is your letter. Why am I reading it?” She asked innocently.
“Linuxia, you were found with that letter.”
“Then I am Samara?” The dark one answered.
“You are my daughter, Samara Manuela Snape.”
“Why did you . . . who is Voldemort?” The man’s brow knitted, and he sighed.
“That takes a long time to explain. Better that we do it at home. Come with me.” He stood.
“Severus,” Lucius asked, “Why now?”
“My parents have finally died, idiot!”
“But she still has-” Lucius stopped.
“She still has . . .?” Severus loomed, very tall all of a sudden.
“I still have duties, sir. I must polish the staircases, and wash the floors, and . . . um . . . Cook dinner.”
“Lucius, we’ll discuss this later. Get your things, girl.”
“Things, Sir?”
“Extra clothes, brush, washcloth. Thin
“
“Again. Things, Sir?”
“Lucius . . .” He growled. “Come, girl.” He led her out of the room.