Fatal Affair

Chapter 25: Double-Agent

Nova stared at herself in a long floor-to-ceiling mirror in her bedroom. She slowly grabbed her hair, tying it in a tight ponytail, smoothing out the bumps. She glanced down at her outfit, all black and tight against her skin. She thought loose clothes might get in the way. She took a steady breath, trying to keep her pulse from racing. In the mirror, she saw her bedroom door open and Severus Snape walked inside, closing the door behind him. 

"Do you ever knock?" Nova asked, watching Severus through the mirror. 

"This is important," Severus said. 

"What if I was changing?" Nova asked, turning around to face him. 

"Well, you weren't." Nova rolled her eyes as Severus sat himself in one of her chairs. "You're leaving to find the cup, I presume." 

"Yes," Nova said, sitting on the edge of her bed. "So I don't have much time." 

"I've spoken to Dumbledore about this." Severus started nervously toying with a black band on his index finger. "He wouldn't tell me what it was exactly, but this cup is really important." 

"I figured that much," Nova said. 

"You need to be very careful when handling it." 

"Noted," Nova said, getting up. "Is that all?"

"No," Severus said, standing as well. "It is extremely vital that you remember where you and Bellatrix will hide the cup. Has she said anything about this yet?" 

"Bellatrix and I don't talk unless we have too." 

"Then you need to make sure you know where it will be located," Severus said. "Then you will give this information to Dumbledore. He emphasized how important this is. So please, do not argue with Bellatrix, do not do anything stupid. Just do the job and come back. Is that understood?" 

"I'm not a child, Severus," Nova said, crossing her arms. "We'll hide the cup then I will report back to you." 

"No," Severus said. "Report back to Dumbledore." 

"Why not you?" 

"This is too important." Severus walked to the door, his hand hovering over the doorknob. "Please don't talk to Bellatrix about Lucius. Do nothing that might set her off or distract you from the task."

"She's the one that brings him up all the time," Nova said angrily. "Besides, it's a game to her. She doesn't actually care." 

"Narcissa knows and she cares. Which means Bellatrix cares, despite how she behaves."

"Please don't bring Narcissa into this?" Nova asked. "How do you even know what Narcissa knows?" 

"Please," Severus said, "she's acting as if he's away in Azkaban all over again." 

"Lucius was in Azkaban?" Nova asked, surprised. "Why?" 

"It doesn't concern you. I shouldn't have mentioned that," Severus said quickly. "Good luck today, Nova. And please, be careful." 

Severus left, shutting the door behind him. 

"Will you just tell me where we're going?" Nova asked for what felt like the hundredth time. 

Nova was walking quickly after Bellatrix down a deserted alleyway. 

"What would be the fun in that, sweet child?" Bellatrix said. 

"It might help prepare me. I should know what to expect." 

"You worry too much," Bellatrix said, stopping so suddenly that Nova almost collided into her back.

"I don't want to fuck this up," Nova said quietly. "If you haven't realized, this seems to be important." 

"Of course it's important," Bellatrix hissed. "Everything our Dark Lord needs done is important." 

Bellatrix appeared to be watching something. Nova peered around her shoulder and saw a store she had never seen before: Borgin and Burkes. 

"Is it here?" Nova asked, watching someone leave the shop. 

"I have an errand to do," Bellatrix said. "Stay here." 

Bellatrix set off towards the shop and Nova ran after her. 

"Like hell I'm staying behind," Nova said. 

"Suit yourself." 

They entered the shop, which appeared to be empty. Nova looked around trying to find the shopkeeper but saw no one. Bellatrix walked towards the back. Nova took her time, looking at all the items for sale. They appeared to be dark artefacts. A severed hand that Nova chose to believe was not real, nail clippings in a bag labelled Vampire DNA, a black box with engravings on it labelled Pandora's Box. 

"May I help you, Mrs Lestrange?" 

Nova looked up towards Bellatrix. A shopkeeper had approached her, seeming to come out of nowhere. 

"I'm just taking a look at this cabinet, Borgin," Bellatrix said, eyeing a large black cabinet. 

"Yes, very popular item, our vani-" 

"I know what it is," Bellatrix said, annoyed. "I do not require any assistance." 

The gentleman named Borgin hurried away from Bellatrix and approached Nova instead. 

"Anything I can help you with?" 

Nova glanced at Bellatrix, who appeared distracted, then back to the artefacts on the shelf. 

"Is this really Pandora's Box?" Nova asked, pointing at the small black chest. 

"Of course it is," Borgin said with a hint of boredom. 

"Wouldn't it be empty?" Nova asked, recalling her brief studies in Greek mythology. 

"Why don't you buy it and find out?" Borgin offered. 

"Can't I just open it?" Nova reached a hand towards the box. 

"Don't!" Borgin shouted as the box startling vibrating violently, as if something was trying to claw its way out. 

Nova withdrew her hand quickly, watching the box. 

"Apologies," Bellatrix said, coming over. "She doesn't understand yet that she shouldn't touch what does not belong to her." Bellatrix grabbed Nova's wrist. "I'm finished here, Borgin. Goodbye." 

Bellatrix dragged Nova out of the shop, leaving Borgin to deal with the vibrating box. 

With Nova's wrist still gripped in Bellatrix's hand, they apparated to the edge of a forest.