Severus & Lucius

In the morning, before Malfoy wakes, Snape tells Elsbet that he has inquired about Micha's fate, and she tells him she thinks he is dead. "Bea told me they are both watching over me, not by name, but...who else could she mean but my brother and my friend," she says with a slight shrug, and as he pulls her into his arms he tells her he thinks it is worth trying. "But--" he doesn't let her finish. He kisses her tenderly and holds her close, thinking to her, what makes you believe Bea didn't mean your brother and Sirius? She rests her head against Snape's chest and tells him, "why would Sirius...

Steeling himself for the worst, Snape approaches the glass and sees Malfoy sitting with his back to the door. After a second, the White Wizard looks over his shoulder at his Dark lover, an expression of undisguised joy on his face. After another couple of seconds, the elegant head of the great bird appears, and rests on Malfoy's shoulder. The swan gazes at Snape, who finds himself at a loss. He sees Malfoy's lips move and he knows he's asking the swan something; the bird turns his head and clacks his bill in response. Malfoy laughs and Snape's heart is light...clearly, the healing is a success....

As Malfoy leaves Elsbet's room the Silhouettes are departing, and he wishes them good fortune with a gentle mental touch.

"So," Therion says as Malfoy walks back into the living room, "Ellie truly is an Elf." Malfoy nods as he sits down, sighing deeply. Remus stretches and goes into the kitchen, and after a moment or two comes back with a glass of juice and munching a piece of bacon. Tonks sits down across from Malfoy and runs her hands through her bubble-gum pink hair. "What does that mean for us?" Layne looks at each of them and smiles softly. "I think...it means we're supposed to be together."...

Tonks sits for a moment, thinking. "But, how would she know the language itself, unless her parents actually sat down and worked it all out?" The wizards look at each other silently, fidgeting, then Tonks gives a half-hearted laugh. "You can't mean..." Quietly, Therion goes to the huge bookshelf that takes up the corner of the living room opposite the door that leads to their backyard park. He crouches for a moment and pulls a very large book carefully out of the bottom cabinet, then places it in the center of the coffee table. He sits back down and looks at Tonks evenly. "The Encyclopedia...

Snape listens to them chat, glancing from time to time at Elsbet and Malfoy, dying to know what is going on with him. At last, after the meal is nearly done, Malfoy asks him how his day has been. Snape replies that it was fortunately uneventful, then he tells them, "I believe I may be home for a day or two, for the weekend." As the dishes are cleaned up and leftovers stowed, everyone seems to have an idea of what to do for those two days, even the birds. They range from swimming in the small lake in the center of the District (the birds' idea) to visiting the Silhouettes' outpost in the Southfarthing...

Just on the perifery of her mind...

Did she miss something? She must have. Somewhere along the line, she must have. Who was the first to disappear? Lucius. Then Greyback vanished. Then these three, and she's heard the Carrows whispering that Draco is missing.

That's six.

But...Severus couldn't have killed them all. Could he have?

She passes empty rooms as she goes down the long, dimly-lit hallway to the bedroom she shared with Lucius, trying to fit things together in her mind. She reaches the bedroom and something occures to her.

Dumbledore, and the Unbreakable Vow.

She has to sit down. She runs...

The fall was frightening, but they did not let her get hurt; two of them caught her on their sturdy backs, and once she got her bearings, she laughed and giggled like a child. Nibbling her toes and fingers with their velvety lips, they give her comfort and express their joy with little squeals. Slowly, carefully, she rights herself on the bigger one's back, and checks to make sure her stick is still in her hair.

It's gone.

She gives a little cry of alarm, for she loves her stick and does not wish to be without it. She calls out and the stick returns, but carried in the mouth of one of the young...

Snape takes his afternoon meal alone, as is his custom while here. Ham BLT, mushroom soup and spiced cider. He has the feeling that his loved ones are having the same, and while that feeling gives him some comfort, the food never tastes the same. It's never as good here, and lately, that difference is even more evident. The House-elves are unhappy. He can't blame them. For a moment, he wonders what the House-elves will do when the time comes, but knowing Dobby, he thinks, they'll be right out there fighting with the rest of us. He stops in mid-sip and contemplates that thought. With the rest...

When Layne turns around he sees everyone is up and preparing for a very early breakfast. Andromeda and Ted are quietly saying goodbye; they had only come to make sure Elsbet was alright, and they don't want to be a bother. "If there is anything Ted and I can do, Severus," Andromeda says, "please just let us know." Snape thanks them as they leave, glances at Layne, then returns his attention to the breakfast at hand. Layne watches how well Snape and Malfoy work together in the kitchen. No words are necessary; they seem to anticipate each others' needs, their actions are smooth and graceful,...