Fatal Affair

Chapter 30: Trust

A few months had passed since Nova overheard Voldemort's plan to kill her. She had been avoiding Severus, which proved easy as he was busy with teaching to stop by the Manor much. It was a chilly Sunday morning, the spring weather made occasional appearances, however winter still kept a cold chill in the air. Nova lay naked in Lucius's bed, her head resting on his bare chest. 

"I should go," she said, absentmindedly tracing circles on his chest with her finger. 

"It's still early," Lucius mumbled, eyes still shut from sleep. 

"Narcissa has been coming back earlier and earlier," Nova said, sitting up and clutching the sheet to her chest. 

Lucius traced a line down her back with his hand. "Just 10 more minutes, love." 

"I shouldn't, Lucius." 

Lucius sat up and kissed her on her shoulder from behind. "I promise you, it'll be worth it." 

Nova sighed, closing her eyes to his warm lips pressing into her skin. 

"What's the matter, love?" Lucius asked, kissing her on her neck. 

"I just don't want to get caught, Lucius." 

"Not that." He stopped kissing her. "You seem... distracted lately." 

Nova knew her days remaining in the Manor were few and keeping this to herself was difficult. She knew she could never stay forever, nor did she want to stay forever, but she grew accustomed to its walls, to her bedroom, to her routine, to... Lucius. 

She knew that after Draco snuck the Death Eaters into Hogwarts, she would have to disappear. She knew that once she was gone, if she were to see Lucius again, the circumstances would be very different. She wouldn't be a Death Eater anymore, making her an enemy. 

"Nova," Lucius said softly, calling her back to the present. "What's going on?"

"Do you really care, Lucius?" she asked, growing defensive towards her wounded heart. "I'm fine," she hastily added, getting up and grabbing her clothes from the ground. 

"Don't go," Lucius protested as Nova began to dress. "Whatever I said to upset you, I didn't mean it." 

Nova scoffed. 

"Just tell me what's wrong," Lucius said. 

"It's nothing, Lucius." Nova threw her sweater over her head, placed it over her body, and made for the door. 

"Do you not want to do this with me anymore?" Lucius asked as Nova grasped the door handle. 

"Just because I seem upset, doesn't mean it has anything to do with you." 

Nova opened the door and left. She collided into someone who was rounding the same corner as her. Severus Snape held her arms, steadying Nova so she didn't fall over. 

"I need to speak with you," Severus said as Nova regained her balance. 

"No, thank you," Nova said, trying to get pass Severus who gripped her tightly. 

Nova felt angry at Severus for not telling her Voldemort's plan right away. He hadn't mentioned it and if it hadn't been for her eavesdropping, she wouldn't know. Doubt crept inside of her, she began questioning which side Severus was really on. She hated that this was something she thought of, but she lost significant trust in him. 

"It's important," Severus said, looking over her shoulder, possibly trying to figure out where Nova came from. "But we can't talk here." 

"Severus, I'm really not in the mood," Nova said.