The Fearsome Name of Riddle

Friends Old And New

The bustle of the train station chattered on as Victoria stood with a hand gently on her eldest son's cheek. He was a man now, technically, but still a boy of eighteen. Lucius Malfoy had finished his seventh year with nearly all outstandings in his NEWTs, a head boy badge on his chest and a beaming smile of pride on his face. He had been worried on the train that his mother's anger over his dark mark would distract her from his achievements but as she looked up at him like he was the only other person on the platform, Lucius could not have been more at ease. 

"I'm so glad that you're happy, Mother." Lucius smiled, leaning into her hand before dropping his head down to her shoulder and hugging her tight. "I will continue to make you proud my whole life, I swear it." 

"Don't put too much pressure on yourself, Lucius," Victoria said softly, holding her angel boy as she stroked her hand over the soft white waves of his hair. "As long as you are happy and trying your best, I will always be proud of you." 

The corners of his eyes pricked and Lucius squeezed them shut to stop himself from crying on her shoulder. Hugging her could be the only display of affection he would allow himself in front of all his friends. He was mainly glad that Rodolphus was two years older than him so he wasn't on the platform to make fun of him for having a loving mother. Mulciber and Avery could be dismissed or reprimanded because of their youth, but that wouldn't make their teasing any less annoying. 

Lucius straightened himself as he let her go. He could feel the warmth of pride in his chest, all her attention lay on him, Octavian wasn't even trying to take it away from him. His eyes studied her smile, tracing every crease in her skin as he cemented the moment into his memory. 

A tug on his robes made him want to ruin his moment entirely and swing for whoever tried to get his attention. He turned with a deepening frown that dissipated when his eyes landed on the small boy with long black hair that hung past his ears. The boy was skinny with sallow skin and a hooked nose. His black eyes looked nervous as he shuffled in front of Lucius. 

"Severus? What's the matter?" Lucius asked, raising a confused eyebrow at the twelve year old before him. 

"I wanted to say thank you for all the advice you've given me this year," the boy said politely, squaring his shoulders to make his posture more aristocratic in the face of the Malfoy heir and his lady mother. "I understand that seventh year is an important and busy time and you still took the time to guide me, so thank you." 

"Oh." Lucius looked taken aback as the boy stuck out his hand for him to shake. He took Severus’ hand and gave it a firm shake. "Right. You're welcome." 

"I'm sorry to have interrupted your conversation," Severus said, turning slightly in his apology towards Lucius's mother who was watching him with a soft smile and a look of intrigue. 

"No need to apologise." Victoria smiled, her voice soft and commanding like a kind queen. "What was your name again? I think I missed it." 

"Sev- Severus, Severus Snape." Severus stumbled through his nerves as he looked up at her. He wasn't quite sure how to address her. Mulciber and Avery referred to her as Lady Victoria. She could have been noble, she certainly looked the part, but no one treated Lucius like he'd ever be a Lord. Narcissa was slightly more familiar, referring to her as Mrs Malfoy. He didn't know her at all but it seemed like the obvious choice for a friend's mother. "It's a pleasure to meet you M— My Lady." 

Victoria laughed at the slight questioning tone at the end of his sentence, finding his nervousness highly amusing. "Mrs Malfoy is fine."

Her eyes narrowed as she looked the boy over. There was something in his eyes and his heavy brow that seemed familiar, the shape of them, the deep black colour. He had quite feminine features but some boys were like that, especially at twelve. 

"I can't say I know the Snape name," Victoria said, watching Severus' shoulders curl around him as he shrank away. She could safely assume his father wasn't a wizard but to have made friends with Lucius his mother had to be a witch. "What's your mother's name?" 

"Prince." Severus looked more comfortable to be asked about his mother. He looked up at her and took note of the curious head tilt. "Eileen Prince." 

"Of course." Victoria smiled more warmly than Severus had expected her to. "Your mother and I went to school together, same year, same house. We shared a room for seven years. Is she well?" 

Severus' head wobbled in a way that was neither a nod nor a shake, like he wasn't quite sure how to answer. He pressed his lips into a thin line as he thought of what words to use. Luckily he got saved from having to explain his home life, unluckily for him it was by Walburga Black. 

"Are we going to stand around all day? I'm convinced Sirius is becoming a flight risk, I've got to get him home." Walburga drawled, leaning half her body weight into Victoria's side. "Who's this one?" 

An audible groan and a scuffed shoe turned Victoria's head back to where Sirius stood. He glared silently from his place a few steps away. Not a friend of the little prince clearly. 

"Eileen Prince's son," Victoria said, watching Walburga's expression turn into a grimace as she looked at the half blood in front of them. Her voice hardened, creating a wall to stop Walburga from pouncing at the poor boy. "His name is Severus."

"And why is he here?" Walburga sneered, the resentment for Eileen running off with a muggle man still a bother to her. 

"He wanted to speak with Lucius, you don't have to be so rude." Victoria's eyes rolled and landed back on Severus who looked pale enough to faint with the two witches standing in front of him. "Is your mother here?" 

Mrs Malfoy lifted her head and tried to look down the platform. Victoria could barely remember what Eileen looked like, like her son she assumed given his familiar look. They weren't seventeen any longer and they both would have changed over the years. 

"Um— She's—" Severus looked around himself like a cornered animal to find himself alone amongst the wolves. He didn't know where his mother had gone. 

"You truly want to see that blood traitor again?" Walburga scoffed, pushing off Victoria's side and stepping back. "She betrayed herself, her own kind, and both of us. Send the boy on his way and let's go." 

"You are being insufferable." Victoria sighed heavily, taking Walburga by the hand before turning back to Severus again. "Give your mother my best and don't mention a thing this one has said. It was lovely to meet you, young man." 

"And you, Mrs Malfoy." Severus gave a small sort of bow as he watched Lucius' mother drag Walburga Black by the hand across the platform followed by all their sons. The sneering glare of Sirius Black mirrored that of his mother's and the youngest Black boy, who Narcissa had told him was called Regulus, trotted on behind them with his hand held in Narcissa's. 

End of part 3