Uncanny Snake

XXXIX - Forever and Always

Rynne observed the gardens from the balcony of her room; a tall man cloaked in black seated under the ancient oak tree that had graced their lands for centuries. She hurried down the steps of the foyer and through the glass doors leading into the garden. As expected, the dark and mysterious man had his nose stuck in a book, but it was just another intriguing quality of his. She couldn't remember the last time she had witnesses a Death Eater engrossed in the fine art of literature, apart from Lucius.

"Good evening, Severus. What are you reading?" the girl asked, leaning over him to better look at the cover, her green sundress lightly carried by the wind. It would have been a picture-perfect moment from some of the romance novels he often indulged in, had the little girl not been blocking his much-needed sunlight.

"None of your concern," he drawled cooly, going out of his way to set the book down on his lap, hoping the hostile gesture was enough to shoo the girl away, but she was persistent. Despite his efforts, Slytherin's heir took a seat beside him, patting down her dress to cover her thighs.

"Tom had me reading all sorts of books today as well. The forbidden arts are intriguing; I don't understand why they're such a taboo topic. It's morbidly fascinating." The Death Eater groaned internally, knowing there was no getting rid of her, not since he first acknowledged her presence that faithful day. Curse that piano, he thought. However, his observant nature had him noticing the bruises beginning to take shape on her lower thigh, and what looked suspiciously like fingernail marks on her upper arm.

He should have known better than to interfere, but the distinct handprint on her cheek made him uneasy, stomach clenching at the thought. "Did the Dark Lord do that to you?"

"Oh, these?" she giggled. "Yes, he said it was punishment for my lack of discipline and progress." Her eyes betrayed her joyous tone, and Severus' lips set in a thin line. A part of him pitied the girl. Having the Dark Lord's attention was not something to be thrilled over. Even though Severus was considered a part of his inner circle, one could never rest easy when the menace of that man prowled around. Still, to lay hands on the girl he claimed to love and cherish at his own. Bastard.

It was no surprise the Dark Lord had laid claim to the girl before him. Heir of one of the most ancient and respected houses of the wizarding world. Her potential was limitless. As she rambled on, however, Severus glanced at the figures observing them from the veranda. The Master of the Slytherin Household and none other than the Dark Lord himself. Based on the expression of the older man, it must not have been an amicable conversation. If anything, Master Slytherin had a murderous glint in his eyes, no doubt caused by the injuries on his daughter.

"Hamlet," Severus finally responded, cutting her off.

"Huh?"

"I was reading Hamlet. It's a Shakespearean playwright that was composed in the early 1600s." Her smile radiated warmth on par with the sun, and Severus wasn't sure why, but he was drawn to this young girl. A sort of paternal obligation set upon him by circumstance.

"What's your favorite color?" She asked, eyes beaming with admiration and curiosity. The Death Eater had never been the target of such a look, and unbeknownst to him, his cheeks flushed slightly.

"Black," he muttered under his breath, eyes going back to survey the pair arguing on the steps of the veranda. Their discussion cut short as a fuming wizard stormed towards them, robes billowing after him.

"Come, Rynne," he ordered, and the young woman quickly rose, her hand traveling to grasp her father's. His anger and frustration were vivid, but Slytherin's hold on his daughter's hand was gentle, as though she was a delicate object who might break at any second, and the reality was not so far off. His murderous gaze softened upon meeting the Death Eater's eye, and the older man offered a curt nod before leaving. But not before Rynne turned around and waved goodbye, a blinding smile pulling at her lips.