E Pluribus Unum

A/N - There is a tricky bit of political maneuvering coming up and it is actually requiring some big brain cogitation on my part. As Deeble once said: \"so now you\'re going to post every other day?\" Well, maybe. It totally depends on whether or not my characters will behave or if they get rowdy! Thanks to Kate for the use of her figurative shoulder for me to weep on, thus slowing the progress of her own wonderful fics. (See my recs for durther information!)

I love all of you so much, but my fingers are falling off.

Chapter 45 – The Dance of Deception

Kathryn had had to owl her Grandmother Olivia to get a proper dress and then have Minerva transfigure it to the correct size since she had nothing of her own that was suitable to wear to Malfoy manor. Her last trip to the modiste’s had been far too long ago, she would have to remember to update her wardrobe and soon.

She had remembered to pack an Obfuscator Pendant when she knew that she was going to be returning to this ever so dangerous tightrope walk, so at least on that score she was covered: she was shielded from the use of Legilimancy.

Orion she rigged with a portkey pacifier she could activate with a single word. It would immediately bring him back to Hogwarts if things got ugly. She wished she could drape him in wards and protections but anything too obvious would be suspicious; that was more dangerous than to simply go without.

The dress her grandmother sent was deceptively simple when she slipped into it. It was demure in front and plunging in back, with a slit up the side. Kathryn’s best assets, in her opinion, were her legs and the dress allowed tantalizing glimpses of them as she turned slowly in front of the mirror.

Chopsticks with dangling beads were placed in her bun; they had the added benefit of being deadly little blades as well. The gun was strapped high on her thigh where it was concealed by the drape of the fabric but could be reached through the slit. A necklace that could be tugged off and used as a garrote went on next and a charm bracelet with dissolvable charms each made of a different potio poi poison was slipped on her wrist.

She tucked her wand into a narrow pocket in the dress and twirled, making sure nothing incriminating showed. Finally satisfied that she was armed, dangerous, and well-prepared for a quiet evening at the Malfoy’s, she went in search of the man she loved who was taking his own sweet time in the bathroom.

“Severus? We might want to get there before the end of the semester.” She called to him and the bathroom door opened and he stepped out. Kathryn was seriously considering flooing the Malfoys and telling them to fuck off because Severus looked far too good to be let out of their quarters.

His hair gleamed in the candlelight, washed, combed and hanging softly about his face. He was dressed in a perfectly tailored pair of trousers and a Nehru style jacket that on anyone else would have looked hopelessly retro but on him looked sexy as hell. The clothes clung to him and outlined his body in a manner that Kathryn found intensely arousing and she wasn’t sure she wanted any other woman to see him that way. He had draped a set of formal robes over his shoulders with velvet turned-back collars and deep flowing sleeves. He looked quite magnificent.

“Will I do?” He asked with an arched brow and Kathryn’s dry-mouthed nod was the only answer she could give him for a moment. “As soon as we get home, I am peeling you out of that outfit, very slowly.” She promised with a voice gone husky with desire. He allowed a small smile and headed for the door.

“Perhaps not too slowly.” He commented as she walked ahead of him and he saw the back of her gown. There was a slightly breathless quality to his voice as he said it and she reflected smugly that even after a year and some months of being in a relationship, there were no signs of the passion abating.

Winky handed the baby to Severus. The Malfoy House Elves would care for him at the Manor -- Winky‘s past was too well known for her presence to be welcomer asr association with the Crouches -- both Senior and Junior -- made her a suspicious choice for a loyal Death Eater’s House Elf. Orion had been dressed in Slytherin green dress robes for the occasion with silver piping and a little border of snakes around the hem and sleeves.

As they left the dungeon, they found Draco and Minuet waiting outside the door. Still in their school robes and looking very worried they fell into step with the two professors. Severus had decided the babing ing didn’t suit his outfit tonight and so he was carrying the baby. At almost seven months old, Orion was getting heavy and only a weightless charm kept him from being a burden.

“Be careful, Sir.” Draco was deeply concerned; he was moving with an excess of nervous energy and a frown line between his eyes had been dug deep by his distress. “Mother’s letters of late have been even less sane than usual.” Draco was looking up at his Head of House as he spoke but his eyes were on Orion.

“We will be cautious, Mr. Malfoy.” Severus retorted with a touch of acid. He had been playing this game longer than Draco had been alive, after all. Kathryn, however, was watching the boy’s eyes with interest.

“What is it exactly that you fear?” Kathryn asked him.

“Mother keeps talking about how good your bloodlines are, Professor. I think she may want to use you in the Project.” Draco took a deep breath. “She doesn’t want to have another baby herself.” The implications of this made Kathryn shiver in sudden dread.

“Never.” Severus’s voice was completely dead and cold and it froze the children in place. Severus, still carrying the baby, swept off towards the front door with a fearsome scowl.

“Thank you for the warning, Mr. Malfoy.” Kathryn patted the young man on his shoulder, realizing that he had reached her height; she now looked him straight in the eyes. He seemed so much older than seventeen.

“Yes Ma’am.” He retreated, taking Minuet with him. The fifteen year old had been utterly silent the whole time. It was a sign of her fear that the usually chatty girl hadn’t spoken. Kathryn felt icy cold. Being expected to sleep with Lucius Malfoy hadn’t been in her calculations and she was suddenly very afraid.

Malfoy Manor had no more anti-apparation wards around it; the Aurors had disassembled most all the wards in fact, except for the Muggle-repelling charms. Narcissa decried their actions but it made having a secret party a great deal easier; the guests could apparate into the house without alerting the watching Aurors.

It was a small party -- after all, Lucius wasn’t stupnougnough to let more than a few trusted souls know that he was even in contact with Narcissa, let alone hiding out in his own home. Severus had told Kathryn about the secret room that Lucius was living in but even Severus didn’t know where in the house it was or how to access it. Not even Draco knew that.

They apparated into a foyer done in muted greens and blues; the floor was an emerald toned marble and the walls were papered in striped blue and green with smaller stripes of gold. The chandelier was golden, in the form of peacock feathers studded with crystals, each feather supporting a candle. It was elegant and displayed both wealth and taste.

They stepped from the hall into a large dining room; Kathryn recognized it from Severus’ descriptions but the rainbow patterns the chandelier cast on every surface were more beautiful than she had imagined. She was reminded of Hermione’s comment of how there was some true beauty hidden amongst all the ugliness of pureblood society.

The room had about twelve people in it; she recognized all of them, either through having met them before or through Severus’ descriptions.

Narcissa had dressed in teal with her blonde hair gathered on top of her head with dangling curls brushing her shoulders. She was standing in the center of the room where she could show off her dress to best advantage.
The dress was one step away from high-class hooker and Kathryn felt downright prim beside her. Narcissa’s dress had panels of sheer fabric the exact same color as the rest that revealed patches of skin. The panels moved randomly across the dress, offering glimpses of different areas and teasing the viewer with the possibility of seeing a very great deal indeed. Narcissa was flir wit with Franco and Kathryn wondered if that were entirely wise.

Lucius was in his full Victorian bn upn up robes in the same silver white as his hair. He looked almost angelic in the candlelight and from Fenchurch’s glare, Kathryn guessed that it was a deliberate jab.

“Good evening, Severus.” Lucius Malfoy glided up to them when they appeared in the doorway. Narcissa was so engrossed in her pursuit of Franco that she ignored them entirely. Kathryn wondered if the woman was losing her mind. The rules of the game were strict and Narcissa was not playing by them.

“Good evening, Lucius.” He shook the pale hand and then turned to Kathryn. “Kathryn, allow me to present Lucius Malfoy.” Kathryn smiled politely and extended her hand. Severus had cleverly highlighted the superiority of the Majere connections over the Malfoy line by introducing Lucius to her rather than vice-versa; a delicate maneuver and adroitly done. Lucius frowned but could do nothing but bow over her fingers.

“Mr. Malfoy.” She accepted the association, but with him in the inferior role. Severus’ clever Slytherin mind had already begun maneuvering her free from any possibility of Kathryn being roped into Narcissa’s plot.

“Professor Leblanc.” The stiffness of his tone showed his awareness of being out-maneuvered. “This must be Orion. He’s a very handsome boy.” Lucius was looking at the baby with interest, as though he were cataloguing his usefulness. “Giddy will take him to the nursery.”

A House Elf in a dirty tea towel appeared and accepted the baby from Severus, then vanished with him upstairs. Kathryn watched him go, hoping that the infant would not fret without a familiar face.

Severus nodded to Lucius, claimed Kathryn’s arm, and escorted her into the party, getting her away from Lucius quickly. He kept her close to him as he introduced her to the others.

Off to one side, looking irritable and out of temper was Fenchurch. He had Miss Mangle at his side and she had a wary look in her eye. Fenchurch and Miss Mangle wore simple robes of carmine red; Miss Mangle had matching ribbons in her hair.

It was the first time that Kathryn had the opportunity to speak with Miss Mangle outside of a dream. However the girl gave her a blank-eyed stare when they were introduced that warned Kathryn off. Fenchurch was noticeably agitated and Kathryn wondered why. Something was not right with the Dark Ones and she wished she knew what it was.