Fatal Affair

Chapter 15: Enemies

Nova walked down to dinner that night, heart hammering in her ears. She had changed into something less revealing after her morning with Lucius. She thought back to it often throughout the day, and dwelled on how he had barely said two words to her since. She hurried from his office afterwards, afraid of getting caught. She knew what they had done was wrong, but her attraction for him was difficult to ignore. 

She walked into the dining room and let out a breath of relief when she noticed Narcissa hadn't arrived yet. She silently hoped that she wouldn't be here for dinner. Lucius sat at his usual spot, Bellatrix talking rapidly to him. His eyes found Nova's when she entered the room and it felt like Nova's heart stopped. She paused in the doorway, a knowing looking passing between her and Lucius, filling the room with awkward silence. However, it wasn't silent; people continued chatting, barely paying any mind to Nova. To her, it felt like the world slowed. 

"Oh no," Bellatrix remarked, looking at Nova. "What have you two done?" she asked accusingly, but a playful smile rested on her lips. 

Nova quickly sat down across from Lucius, ignoring Bellatrix. Act normal you dumb bitch, Nova thought to herself, trying to relax and slow her heartbeat. 

"Nova," Lucius greeted her with a tilt of his head. 

Nova returned the greeting with a polite smile, scared her voice might give her away. Her mind kept flashing back to the morning in his office. 

Narcissa walked into the room, taking her seat beside Lucius. She smiled at Nova, who smiled back. 

"Cissy," Bellatrix addressed her sister. "Your dear husband has just been informing me that you are planning to spend another weekend away." 

"Yes," Narcissa said. "I'm going to be staying with our aunt in Hogsmeade. I feel better when I'm closer to Draco. In case he needs me." 

"Are you sure leaving Lucius alone is a good idea, sister?" Bellatrix covered her smile with her hand. 

"What do you mean?" Narcissa glanced at her husband. "Draco is our priority. He needs us." Tears sprung to Narcissa's eyes. 

Bellatrix opened her mouth to speak but Lucius cut her off. "Of course, darling," he said sweetly. He put a reassuring arm around his wife. "We need to do whatever it takes to help our son. That's the only thing that matters right now." He gave her arm a tight squeeze with his free hand. 

Nova dropped her spoon loudly into her bowl of soup, an eerie clang reverberating in the room. Lucius, Narcissa, and Bellatrix looked at Nova. 

"I'm sorry." Nova pushed the bowl away from her. "I'm not very hungry." 

"Are you feeling ill?" Narcissa asked with concern. 

"It's just my stomach." Nova placed a hand over her belly. She did feel nauseated, but not because she was ill. 

"You know what they say," Bellatrix said. "Guilt will eat you alive." 

"You would know," Nova shot back. 

"That's the difference between you and I, sweet child." A cold, malicious smile spread across Bellatrix's face. "I don't feel guilt." 

"Bellatrix," Lucius warned. 

"Neither does my brother-in-law," Bellatrix went on.

"Bellatrix," Lucius repeated. "How are you doing with the wand maker? Any progress?" 

"Don't concern yourself with my work, Lucius," Bellatrix hissed.

Nova got up from the table and left. 

She had almost made it all the way to her bedroom when Lucius caught up to her. He grabbed her shoulder, forcing her to face him. 

"What are you doing?" Lucius said, anger flashing in his eyes. "Why are you acting like that?" 

"It's just hard Lucius," Nova said. "Seeing you touch her like that." 

"She is my wife, Nova." 

"I know she is!" Nova tried to leave, but Lucius gripped her arm, keeping her in place. "Please let me go, Lucius." 

"You need to stop acting this way, Nova," Lucius said, leaning into Nova in a way of intimidating her. "She's going to get suspicious." 

"Do you not care?" Nova asked, tugging her arm out of his grip. "Is Bellatrix right about you not feeling guilt?" 

"If I thought I was doing something wrong, I wouldn't do it," Lucius said simply. 

Nova leaned against the wall, her face in her hands. "I think I'm going to be sick." 

"No, you are not," Lucius said. "You are going to act normal around my wife. Enough of this." 

"There you two are." Bellatrix made her way down the hallway. "You two better get your act together, quickly." 

"Bellatrix," Lucius snarled, "for the last time, there is nothing going on here but a deal that is not of your concern. Everything else you think you are seeing is simply your wild imagination." 

"Lucius," Bellatrix said in mock sweetness, "I've told you before, if you refuse to tell me the deal, then I will assume what I want." 

Nova took her face out of her hands to watch the two of them, realizing that they have had discussions about her before. "The deal is that I befriend Draco to see how he's doing with his plan to kill Dumbledore." 

Bellatrix cocked an eyebrow and Lucius appeared angrier than before. 

"You have no faith in him, Lucius?" Bellatrix asked. 

"It does not concern you," he told Bellatrix. Lucius then turned on Nova. "Why would you tell her?"

"I rather her know the deal than think I would ever sleep with you, Lucius." Nova crossed her arms. 

"Ouch," Bellatrix remarked. "Is Nova really growing some courage or is it a defensive front?" 

"Fuck off, Bellatrix," Nova muttered. 

"You want to be careful, sweet child." Bellatrix took a step towards Nova so they were almost touching. "I can make you wish you were dead, if I want to." 

"I'm not afraid of you," Nova said, standing her ground. "And you know what, Bellatrix? If I were sleeping with Lucius, or anybody, it's actually none of your business! So why don't you just leave everyone alone and focus on yourself." 

Bellatrix's eyes grew large, something sinister and wild flashed across her features, causing Nova to take a step back. "Those are some big words for such a little girl." 

"Nova?" Severus appeared in the hallway, looking at everyone in turn. A stunned silence filled the corridor. Nova shook her head, trying to keep her mind from spiralling. 

"Severus, I-" Nova started to explain but Severus held up a hand to stop her.

"Lucius, I need a word," Severus said. "It concerns Draco." 

"Nova," Lucius said, "go into your room and lock the door. Bellatrix," Lucius grabbed Bellatrix's arm, forcing her attention on him, "go see your sister. If you go near Nova, there will be consequences." 

"I was just playing around, Lucius," Bellatrix announced. 

With a final warning look from Lucius, Bellatrix made her way downstairs. Severus and Lucius left together, and Nova headed towards the kitchen instead of her room.