Chapter Text
As the house elves appear at their elbows to take their plates, Lucius gestures at his son. “Don’t forget to feed the prisoner again Draco. I should not have to remind you.”
Draco stirs slowly, straightens his limbs, and rises with obvious effort. It reminds Snape of a ragdoll which, having found itself animated, now struggles to assemble itself and walk. After the flaxen head has receded from view, Snape whispers, “He has made you to keep captives now Lucius?”
“Only one.” His grimace deepens and he adds, “For now anyway.”
“And pray tell, who is it?”
Lucius flicks his hair back in a gesture of indifference. “The child with the yellow hair. What is her name? You know the girl. L’enfant terrible of Xenophilius Lovegood.”
Snape’s hand clenches under the table as he mimics Lucius’ bitter laugh. He remembers her kidnapping well. The girl had been ripped from the Hogwarts train without his knowledge.
“Yes, a frightful child indeed. I imagine she has tried poor Draco,” Snape says.
“Tried us all. She gave me a serious bite when we brought her in.” He raises his hand and shows Snape the faint scars. “But I think she has learned her lesson since then.”
Snape thinks of Luna, lying in the dark cellar, perhaps dying of serious injuries. He takes a sip of his wine. Counts the seconds. Occludes.
“Lucius? Would it be an… inconvenience if I should go down and visit the girl?”
Lucius’ eyes flit to him in surprise. Then a slow appraising look settles on his face. The man faces forward again, a cruel grin on his lips. “I see your taste in women, has not matured since we were schoolboys Severus. And I suppose I should not be so astonished. You have been locked up all these years amongst them with little other chance for diversion.” Lucius raises his eyebrows humorously and swirls the wine in his glass. “Yes, you had plenty of time to develop a connoisseur’s appreciation for—What’s the word?—adolescents.”
Snape does not return his companion's mocking smile. “Lucius. Would you consider it a burden or not?” he asks.
“No, by all means, go to her. I shan’t begrudge you. Enjoy yourself.”