Shade (A Severus Snape Fanfiction)

|chapter fourteen|

I stood silently. My new family? He must have meant the Death Eaters.
Voldemort removed his wand from his pocket and called out, "Narcissa!"

Narcissa? Why did that name sound so familiar? A woman entered the dining room. The top section of her hair was pinned back and colored brown, while the bottom, platinum blonde section was left down. She was very beautiful, dressed in extravagant clothing, and she walked with a regality that seriously had my questioning who the hell this woman was.

"Yes, my lord?"

"I believe it's time we call a meeting to order," Voldemort told her. The woman eyed me suspiciously, but didn't say a word to me. She simply pushed up the sleeve of her blouse, revealing a Dark Mark. I had never actually seen one until Severus' or I wouldn't have known it was anything but a scary looking tattoo.

Voldemort pressed one finger against the mark on Narcissa's arm, and though she wore a brave face, I could see her flinch slightly. I wondered if it was painful. Then I remembered that this was Voldemort and had no doubt it must have been painful.

"Have a seat, Ms. Quinn. The others will arrive shortly," Voldemort ordered. I looked at the table, unsure of where I was supposed to sit. I looked to Narcissa for help, who after an eye roll, motioned for me to take the seat close to the end of the table where Voldemort was currently seating himself.

I gave her a weak smile as a lame attempt of a thank you as I pulled the chair back and slid into it. After a couple of minutes, people who I assumed to be Death Eaters began filing into the room and taking seats, all watching me with the same suspicious look I had recieved from Narcissa.

I resisted a smirk as Lucius Malfoy walked in. His eyes widened a fraction when he saw me, but his surprise was quickly masked with a smirk. Ha, he must have thought I had been captured. He took a seat next to Narcissa, who was stoned faced as the rest of the newcomers took their seats at the table.

I wondered if Severus would be there, and on que, he entered the room. I struggled to keep my emotions under check as my eyes swept over his black clad figure. He wore no expression, as usual. It seemed like the only time he ever really showed any emotion aside from annoyance or boredom was when we were alone.

Not that I was complaining. I felt a small surge of pride at the thought, actually. There was a side of Severus that no one else knew. A side that was just for me. His dark eyes scanned over me inconspicuously before sitting down in a free chair across from me.

I wanted to speak to him, but I knew I couldn't. As far as Voldemort knew, Severus and I barely knew each other aside from our shared time at Hogwarts. After staring at him for a little longer than necessary, I found the strength to tear my gaze from him.

Once the last seat was filled, Voldemort finally began to speak. "Thank you all for coming."

As if a single one of them had a choice in the matter. I snuck a glance at Severus, but he was watching Voldemort like the others. "We have gained a new member tonight, my friends. Ms. Kathryn Quinn."

Many of the Death Eaters simply glanced at me with very little interest, but there were a few whose gazes lingered on me. Lucius Malfoy and the woman named Narcissa were among them. Along with Severus and a wild haired brunette who sneered at me. I wasn't sure how to respond, so I didn't.

"Kathryn has pledged her allegiance to our cause," Voldemort continued. "Welcome, Kathryn."

"Welcome, Kathryn," the Death Eaters monotonously repeated. The rest of the meeting held very little meaning to me. They discussed things I had no clue about, and I desperately wished for it to be over. Not staring at Severus was nearly impossible, and I feared if I didn't get away from him soon, I would give us away.