Fatal Affair

Chapter 29: Change of Plans

"Do you trust Nova?" Voldemort's cold voice spoke. 

Nova squatted by the door to the dining room, listening to Severus and Voldemort's conversation. She wasn't planning on spending her time in this awkward position, eaves-dropping on a conversation that she didn't belong in. However, when she left and headed to meet Lucius in his office, Bellatrix intercepted. She had confided in Nova that this conversation was about her and that she should be cautious in how she presents herself moving forward. Naturally, Nova backtracked and started listening to their conversation through the door. 

"Of course," Severus answered, voiced muffled. "I wouldn't have brought her here otherwise." 

"Interesting." Voldemort sounded almost bored. "I had someone do a search on her, find any information they could." There was a pause, a moment for Severus to question this but he didn't. "Do you want to know what they found?" 

"What did they find, My Lord?" Severus asked slowly. 

"Nothing." Voldemort let out a sharp laugh that reverberated against the walls. "Absolutely nothing on her past. As if her existence had been erased." 

"I don't understand what you're telling me, My Lord." 

"Don't you find that peculiar, Severus?" Voldemort didn't wait for an answer. "It has, of course, lessened my trust for her. I am very careful about who I trust, Severus." Another pause. Severus remained quiet, waiting for the point of the conversation. "I worry about you, Severus." 

"Worry, Sir?" 

"You are like a son to me," Voldemort said. "You seem to be growing attached to this girl. I trust you, Severus, but I cannot allow for another girl to get in the way of your loyalty." 

"That would never happen, My Lord," Severus said in a rush. "You have my loyalty and no one can get in the way of that. You have my word." 

There was a long pause. Nova's heart began to race. She felt her heart beat throughout her body, as her legs ached from crouching. She dared not move for fear of being heard. "Do you know why I picked Nova to find the cup?" 

"No, My Lord." 

"I didn't expect her to survive." 

Nova's breath caught in her chest. She heard the rush of her blood in her ears, the heart beating in her chest as if trying to escape. She could feel herself begin to shake, whether from rage or fear, she wasn't sure. 

"Sir?" Severus said.

"I knew Bellatrix would force Nova into doing the more... risky parts of the job," Voldemort explained and Nova willed herself to continue listenning. "However, I hadn't predicted that Bellatrix would actually save the girl." Voldemort sounded amused, as if this was a game to him. 

"Why are you telling me this, My Lord?" 

"Your loyalty means more to me than the girl's," Voldemort went on. "If I have to pick between you and her, I will pick you Severus." 

"My Lord, you do not need to pick between us," suggested Severus.

"Do you dare defy me, Severus?" Voldemort snapped. "This is exactly how that foolish girl is getting in the way. Soon, I will no longer have a use for her. That will have to be taken care of." 

"So you're going to kill her?" Severus's voiced was barely above a whisper and Nova pressed her ear against the door to hear.

"No Severus," Voldemort said smoothly. "You will." 

Nova held in a gasp, hands trembling, and took an awkward step away from the door. She stared at it, barely registering its smooth wooden surface. She tried to swallow, her throat dry, and forced herself to continue listening. 

"My Lord, I-" 

"This," Voldemort interrupted, "is how you will prove your loyalty to me." A pause. "The girl will die either way, Severus. If she dies by your hands, then I will truly trust you Severus." 

There was a significantly long pause. Nova stood up, ready to leave as she believed the conversation was over, until she heard Severus speak.

"When?" he asked. 

"After Draco fails at his plan to kill Dumbledore," Voldemort said simply. "I will have no use for her after that." 

Nova turned and left. 

She reached her bedroom, closing the door and leaning against it. She covered her face with her hands, trying to slow down her breathing. 

"Calm down, calm down, calm down..." she muttered to herself. 

Her mind was spiralling, her heart was beating frantically, her palms were sweaty. She looked around her room; her clothes laid in piles on the ground, books were stacked against the walls, the bed was unmade. There was so much evidence that she had lived this life. She glanced down at her arm, scanning the dark mark that would permanently remind her of everything that had happened in this house. 

She reached under her bed in a haste, grabbing her suitcase. She started to throw clothes in it without worrying about folding them. She wanted to make it look like she had never been here, make all of this go away. 

She got most of the clothes in but struggled to close it. She pulled on the zipper but it wouldn't budge. She pulled and pulled and pulled, until it ripped off. 

"Fuck!" she shouted slightly louder than she meant too, throwing the broken zipper on the ground. 

She stared at her suitcase, hand over her mouth. What the fuck am I doing? she thought to herself.  

She began registering the impact of her disappearance, how it could hurt Severus, hurt Dumbledore's plan and ultimately cost more lives than just her own. She knew she couldn't run from Voldemort. She started to think more coherently... she knew she needed a plan. 

She threw all her clothes from the suitcase to the ground, tossed the suitcase back under the bed, then grabbed a paper and quill from her desk drawer, sat down and got to writing.