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A Nagini and Severus Tale	By : MJurjevic Category: Harry Potter AU/AR > General Views: 3508 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or the Harry Potter Fandom, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 6
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Chapter Seven: The Dreadful Dinner Party – Part One

Perhaps it was the entire foul mood of the afternoon that had ascended on him, lingering on from number twelve Grimmauld Place, or simply the rumbling of his empty stomach, that added onto Severus' discomfort and irritation. Severus hungered for something. Anything. Where's some bloody food?

For when Walburga Black had one of her 'attacks', the entire household shut down; consequently, neither he nor Regulus had eaten the entire afternoon. In a terse, hushed hurry, Orion had gathered his now slightly sedated wife, Regulus and Severus, and by the time they had arrived at Malfoy Mansion, the boys were both in highly irritable and vexed dispositions.

So it was with gritted teeth and unwavering determination to cover his edginess that Severus curtly nodded in agreement to Lucius' fierce whispered order, ''Rodolphus – watch him!" accompanied with a fervent glance to Nagini and Rodolphus.

A ravenous pang shot through his gut. Severus looked around the crowded room keenly determined to find a tray of hors d'heourves, either self-hovering or attached to an elf. Finding neither, he turned his attention back to the circle of drole conversation he found himself suffering through.

Only deriving sporadic pleasure from admiring the demure-looking witch he was commissioned to watch was he able to civilly nod or comment on the chaff talk going on around him. Having purposely placed himself beside Nagini, Severus reflected on how, with momentarily daunted breath, he saw her enter the room this evening, passing through the gaggle of guests, seemingly unaware of the sporadic sniggers behind her back from the grotesquely animated faces. She had waded through the garish throng of affluent and powerful Wizards and Witchs with Lucius, who – strategically halting now and then to receive a greeting, an introduction or congratulations – continued making a beeline towards Narcissa as best he could.

Over half were supporters of the Dark Lord; and the others, whom took it for granted their place and influence, supported no one but themselves and the legacy of their predecessors, being the descendants of the Knights of Walpurgis. They smelled of ancient Wizarding families; but all smelled of an even more esoteric trait along with their wealth and power: Pureblood. Derisory curiosities being satisfied once introduced to Nagini, this echelon of Pureblood Wizarding society turned amongst themselves to speculate further about the niece of Abraxas Malfoy.

Is she aware of their gandering and gossip?wondered Severus to himself. Perhaps, she is aware of it, but merely ignoring it all?

Noticing that Nagini gave, time to time, a troubled look around the oppressive crowd, Severus wondered who she was searching for; with what she was concerned.

Severus swallowed hard, gazing at Nagini, a fleeting thought crossed his mind: Are you like me? A Half-Blood? Nagini was so close that Severus could detect a soft pleasing fragrance around her: Cinammon. And something else... undeniably, a feminine scent. Her scent...

Nagini looked around into the the myriad of attachées, relatives and apparently close friends making up the consortium filling the room; not finding whom she sought, her attention on returning to the immediate circle lingered on Severus. The one who entered my mind... well, I'm ready for him now, she assured herself.

"Yes. Yes, of course. However, it is refutable on several points," remarked the tall dark-haired wizard to Narcissa. Nagini and Severus' eyes met, followed with spontaneous soft smiles to each other knowingly; for the discussion at hand was quite absurd, and Severus and she both knew it. Sharing a mutual moment of amusement with Nagini caused a warm surge within Severus, sweeping through him; it was sensual, soothing and magnetic.

Narcissa had been in an adamant disagreement with Guinevere Rookwood over the debatable usages of Dragon's blood, most of their conversation alluding to sceptical variations of its usage in fertility rituals. And the remarks that either Narcissa or Augustus Rockwood's sister were making which entailed using Dragon Blood during a full moon, insuring conceivement, were pretty incongruous.

Nagini coudn't tell whether Severus' comment was laced with sarcasm or in earnest, as his eyebrows were raised as if he were responding to something ludicrous, yet his smooth voice wished them to take him in earnest. There was something alluring about him in his ambivalent demeanour which she couldn't quite put her finger on; the curiosity he aroused in her, surprised her. Nagini already knew he was powerful, highly skilled. His delving into her mind earlier that day when she had been caught off-guard, his ability to exert such power and yet give no pretentious emphasis on being able to, his modesty and austereness, undeniably intrigued her.

Narcissa teasingly pouted, "Oh Severus! You needn't disagree with everything I say!"

"I'm not disagreeing, but rather pointing out indisputable facts regarding –"

Narcissa burst out in laughter. "See? You're doing it again! Can you not not disagree ever? You're one of the most exasperating men I've ever met – "

"Good – you've worked her up for me!" Lucius had come up beside Narcissa, gliding a hand around her waist. "Now, I get to calm you down," whispered Lucius into Narcissa's ear; he was in a particularly gregarious and, the more he touched Narcissa, amorous mood.

"Can't you get them to quiet down a tad?" Narcissa asked, indicating the raucous group Lucius had left to rejoin her.

Severus turned and caught Rodolphus within his peripheral view; in sharp contrast with the rowdy group he stood among, Rodolphus had a disturbing quietness about him. He seemed sublimely subdued, but with a lethal edge.

Following his gaze further, Severus looked slowly around at the loosely serrated circle of Hogwarts' peers mixed with several older guests. Some were dividing their attention between either patronising Narcissa and Lucius, or Bellatrix and Rodolphus. The majority of the latter group, predominantly male, strategically positioned themselves around Bellatrix, who, laying half-reclined on a svelt settee loveseat in the midst of them, gluttonously soaked up the volatile energy exuded from her admirers.

Peeved, Severus noticed how the vulgar animated jostling of McNair, Nott and Goyle egging Regulus on was causing precarious attention. In the midst of Bella's admirers, Regulus stood visibly shaking, adrenaline pumping through his veins, as Mulciber, in particular, as well as other initiated young Death Eaters punched and jabbed at him, along with animatedly describing the various possibilities of the Imperious curse's pleasures for sexual, fatal tortures on Undesirables and Muggles. The sixteen year old was wide-eyed and speechless, just nodding and giving hoarse grunts, mentally logging all the details.

Bellatrix's cackles spontaneously exploded from her when something particularly amusing struck her fancy. But the boisterous rowdiness and excitement was getting out of hand, causing some of the older guests to stop and give distasteful, quizzical looks towards the unruly group of youth.

Narcissa had had enough.

"Lucius!" pleaded Narcissa, with a forced smile covering her simmering anger. Then urgently, she insisted, "You must control them. Now, Lucius!"

"They're just letting off some steam, excitement for tonight."

"Yes," she hissed. "But it was to be a night for us, excitement for us – not him."

"The Dark Lord?" corrected Lucius. Then, he pointed out, "It's his title, Narcissa – use it!"

There was a second of tense hesitancy between Lucius and Narcissa.

In a neutral tone, Lucius carefully repeated, "It's his title, Cissy. You will use it when discussing or addressing the Dark Lord."

From the wounded look Narcissa gave him, Lucius had to look away He contemplated something, and made a decision; then, intentionally, he guided Narcissa to behind the jumbled crowd of peers, maneuvering her directly in back of where Severus and Nagini stood, a more secluded spot. Taking advantage of the momentary coverage given behind them, Lucius impulsively gave Narcissa a soft quick kiss below an earlobe, followed by taking her hand up near his lips, "Cissy, it is a night for us; our night. After the first set of dancing... the very first interlude..." he smiled surreptitiously, "Remember my plan?" He whispered, "I have something to show you? Privately?"

It seemed to mollify Narcissa momentarily, for her saddened eyes looked up at him, followed by the slightest soft smile.

"It's all going to be all right, Cissy," Lucius reassured Narcissa, kissing her forehead, "Five more months – you'll be Mistress of all this, and of me – for always." He kissed her hand again. "You'll have other things to fill up that lovely mind of yours, other worries, obligations..." His other hand had slowly glided down to Narcissa's waist to gently rest over her womb. Softly gasping, Narcissa gracefully caught his hand, and gave it a gentle squeeze. "There, there..." Lucius was murmuring in her ear, comforting her with sweet nothings, interspersed with giving her soft kisses on her neck.

Sharp shots of unexpected envy fired through Severus; his ill-temperedness escalating between being a cover for and witnessing the priviledged turtle-doves cooing behind him. Severus sourly watched Regulus continuing to being goaded and reved up by the likes of Mulciber, Nott and Goyle. He derisively thought, "Look at Regulus, like a Muggle wally... the idiot! The Dark Lord will crush him with one glance... penetrate him senselessly."

Increasingly taxing to his strained nerves, and being further distracted by Lucius and Narcissa's continual sweet nothings behind him, Severus bitterly ruminated,Lucius... handed everything on a silver platter: position, prestige, power... a bride, for always....

Darkly brooding, Severus gave a quick side-glance to Nagini. Though she continued to stand reservedly, seemingly aloof to the different scenarios going on around her, Severus noticed the faint flush of rose on her cheeks, giving away her emotional state. Though she maintained her poise, she couldn't masque her gentle, shallow breathing. The thought of her stirred awareness of Lucius and Narcissa's interaction's behind them; her being affected by the heated whisperings of the lovers, beaconed Severus' attention more ardently on her. Unwonted beforehand, unwelcomed, unknown but now undeniable, the blazed warmth surged through Severus again watching her; but this time, he was not ashamed by it.

A sudden bolt of self-entitlement, deservedness, awoke in him. So, she is made of flesh and blood after all, he heatedly mused, his muscles tightening throughout his body in acute excitement. Perhaps... perhaps my lovely wallflower is responsive to... Noting again the mark on her face from Abraxas, Severus decided, I'll kiss away your pain, make up for what you've had to endure from that arrogant sadistic lout... The image of him brushing his lips across her aroused flushed cheeks, causing them to bloom with more intense shades of burgundy, went through Severus' mind. Allowing his thoughts to drift further...then, a trail of slow kisses down that lovely neck of yours... to its nape... down to your... Severus noted, with intensifying appreciation, the soft flowing material snugly caressing around the curves of her breasts...

"Here you two are!"

Everyone in the nearby group jolted and turned to the addressor. It was Abraxas.

"None of that, now," Abraxas jokingly wagged his index finger, addressing Lucius and Narcissa. "Plenty of time for that after your married. Propreity first. Control, young people, control!" The elders in hearing distance responded with hallow laughter, as the dinner bell chimed for all to precede to the grande dining room.

As a sweep of energy hoarded the jumbled clusters towards dinner, Lucius motioned,

"Severus would you do the honours and escort Nagini?", as he took Narcissa,with Severus and Nagini following closely alongside them.

"Shall we?" offered Severus.

Cupping her hand around Severus' presented arm, Nagini felt his firm, muscular bicep. Who would have thought? He's lean but so taut... "Thank you," she responded.

Once seated for dinner, Nagini and Severus barely spoke a word to each other. Through the courses, Severus was kept busy being engaged by Narcissa, seated on his right, who enjoyed having him  along with Lucius on her other side  as her audience.

This left Nagini much to herself. Which she was grateful for. For even though Regulus Black was seated on her left, thankfully, he was completely engrossed and carrying on with Bellatrix beside him. This gave Nagini time to think about what to do next. For he was here. Lester Qualmsick. Seated directly across the table from her. It's all a mistake. Why did I think this evening could be normal?

Nagini had thought just doing what was expected of her this evening would be the most difficult aspect of it: 'Don't speak unless spoken to. When spoken to, respond politely, but as little as possible. Be the attentive listener, not the iniatiator...'

Return to my room  that's exactly what I'll do; after dinner, when the dancing starts, I'll find Abraxas and ask if I may return to my room. No one'll care or notice me not being here, and I'll be able to avoid him... But even as she planned this, Nagini looked up to find Lester Qualmsick's hawk-like gaze boring into her. It was difficult to meet his eyes. In a flash, the whole entire miserable weeks in her cell in the bowels of the Ministry of Magic came back to her; the endless interrogations, preparations, the brutal inquisitions from Bartemius Crouch, Albus Dumbledore – she hadn't minded them as much as Qualmsick's, for the former ones were fierce but objective, but Qualmsick... there was that lingering undisclosed, underlying clandestine connection intertwined with Abraxas: something personal, intimate.... Lester Qualmsick knew more about her than anyone in this room.

Nagini wanted a fresh start without the past to burden her, without any former knowledge of Durmstrang to haunt her. She had been forced to disclose her past, all of her past –– to Qualmsick, in desperation to trust a stranger completely to defend her for the Wizengamot tribunal.

And now, meeting his gaze across the table in this expandingly unruly atmosphere, Nagini could only feel her growing sense of shame seeing the visage of Qualmsick's superior smugness, holding her very future, possibly, in his hands. The possibility of his influencing it further, unsettled her.

Under his dark lashes, Severus discreetly followed Nagini's look which stopped on Lester Qualmsick. Qualmsick, who – even though a voluptuous gem-dripping witch seemed to have attached herself to him, vivaciously carrying on to enthrall the barrister's attentions – wasn't taking his eyes off of Nagini.

Qualmsick's stare continued relentlessly: Nagini unable to escape it, tried to focus left and right, anywhere except to have to directly reciprocate it. But then, Severus saw Qualmsick's vacant expression, in spite of the garish witch's squawking and clinging to him, change to a knowing smile and nod upon catching Nagini's attention. Nagini could not shun his presence further; and, hating herself, acknowledged him back.

Severus had the sudden impulse to hex the esteemed barrister, regardless of Qualmsick's renowned and, seemingly, pristine reputation when in the public eye. His gut instincts told him that Qualmsick's complacent smile and nod to Nagini was fraught with parlous intention. It was not Rodolphus that Lucius should be worrying about  and by the reticent aura of Nagini, Severus knew that she would agree  it was Lester Qualmsick

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A Nagini and Severus Tale