"Is... is there anyone else here?"
"Of course not. Oh, yes, Wormtail is here. But we don't count pests, do we? "
He used his wand to point at the wall of books behind him. With a bang, a secret door opened, revealing a narrow staircase. A small man stood dumbfounded at the top.
"You must be very clear, Wormtail. We have a guest."
Snape said lazily.
The man walked down the last few stairs with his back hunched and came into the room.
He had a pair of small, watery eyes, a sharp nose and an unnatural fake smile on his face. He stroked his right hand with his left hand, which looked like it was wearing a shiny silver glove.
"Narcissa!"
He said in a squeaking voice, "Béla Trix! How charming — "
"If you are willing, Wormtail will bring us drinks," said Snape.
Snape said, "Then he will go back to his own bedroom."
Wormtail dodged as if Snape had thrown something at him.
"I am not your servant!"
He avoided Snape's eyes and said in a squeaking voice.
"Is that so? I thought the Black Devil King arranged for you to be here to help me. "
"Help, yes.
But not to bring you drinks and not to clean your room! "
"Wormtail, I didn't expect you to be so eager for a more dangerous mission."
Snape said in an oily tone,
"That's easy. I will tell the Black Devil —"
"If I want, I will tell him myself!"
"Of course you can."
Snape said sarcastically, "As for now, you had better bring us drinks. A little elfin wine will do. "
Wormtail hesitated for a moment, but still turned around and went out through another secret door.
They heard banging sounds and the clinking of glasses.
After a few seconds, he came back with a dirty wine bottle and three glasses on a tray.
He put the tray on the rickety table and quickly left, slamming the door hidden by the books behind him.
Snape poured out three glasses of blood-red wine and handed two glasses to the sisters.
Narcissa mumbled a "thank you". Béla Trix did not say anything and continued to glare at Snape.
But this did not seem to make Snape uncomfortable. He seemed to find it rather funny.
"For the Black Devil King."
The three of them raised their glasses and drained it in one gulp.
Narcissa took the second glass of wine and said, "Severus, I'm sorry to disturb you like this, but I had to come and see you. I think you're the only one who can help me —"
Snape raised a hand to stop her, then pointed his magic wand at the secret door.
There was a loud bang and a scream, followed by the sound of Wormtail running up the stairs.
"Sorry," said Snape. "He's developed a habit of eavesdropping recently. I don't know what he means by that... Where were you, Narcissa?"
Narcissa took a deep, trembling breath and began to speak again.
"Severus, I know I shouldn't have come here. I was told not to tell anyone, but —"
"Then you should control your tongue!"
Béla Trix roared. "Especially in front of this person!"
"This person?"
Snape repeated sarcastically. "How should I interpret that, Béla Trix?"
"I don't believe you, Snape. You know very well!"
Narcissa made a sound like a tearless sob, then covered her face with her hands. Snape put the glass on the table and leaned back in his chair. He put his hands on the arms of the chair and smiled at Béla Trix's angry face.
"Narcissa, I think we should listen to what Béla Trix can't wait to say, in case she keeps disturbing us.
Alright, go on, Béla Trix, "said Snape." Why don't you believe me? "
"There are a hundred reasons!" Béla Trix said loudly as she strode over from behind the sofa and put the glass on the table heavily.
"Where should I start? Where were you when the Black Devil lost his power?
Why didn't you do anything to find him after he disappeared?
All these years, what did you do to survive under Dumbledore?
Why did you stop the Black Devil from getting the Philosopher's Stone?
Why didn't you come back immediately after the Black Devil was resurrected?
A few weeks ago, when we fought bravely to get the Orb for the Black Devil, where were you?
And, Snape, why is Harry Potter still alive?
He has five years for you to do whatever you want with him! "
She stopped, her chest heaving up and down, her cheeks flushed red. Behind her, Narcissa sat motionless, her face still in her hands.
Snape smiled.
"Before I answer you —
You can pass on my words to those who are gossiping about me behind my back. You can report the lies about my betrayal to the Black Devil King!
But before I answer you, let me ask you a question.
Do you really think that the Black Devil has not asked me every single question?
Do you really think that if I did not give you a satisfactory answer, I would still be sitting here talking to you? "
She hesitated.
"I know that he believes you, but —"
"You think that he got it wrong?
Or that I actually tricked him? Actually tricked the Black Devil — — the greatest Wizard in human history, the most accomplished Mind Snatcher in the world? "
Béla Trix did not speak, but for the first time, she looked a little confused.
Snape did not press on. He picked up the glass and took a sip before continuing, "You asked me where I was when the Black Devil lost his power.
I was where he ordered me to be, at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, because he wanted me to spy on Dumbledore there.
I guess that you know that I accepted the teaching position because of the Black Devil's orders, right? "
She nodded almost imperceptibly. She opened her mouth to speak, but Snape stopped her before she could.
"You also asked me why I did not try to find him after he disappeared.
The reason why I did not look for him was the same as Everly, Yaxley, the Carrows, Greyberk, Lucius. "
He tilted his head slightly at Narcissa.
"And many others. I thought that he was done for.
I am not proud of that. I did wrong, but that is the situation … If he cannot forgive us for losing faith at that time, he will not have many followers left. "
"He still has me!" Béla Trix said emotionally. "I spent many years in Azkaban because of him!"
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