elanor_x

\\Part 1 is here.\\

Seeing both of them at the parlor's door, Narcissa stopped smiling and quickly rose from the table. The guest rose too. He was a thin, tall old man with a very arrogant face.

Lucius was lost. If he really was a lover, it had to be acknowledged that Narcissa had quite peculiar taste in men.

Anyway, the guests had to be introduced.

"They're… they're…" murmured the hostess.

"I, you see, am the local minister," introduced Snape, seeing at last that it was high time to take matters into one's own hands, since Draco, finding himself at a loss and forgetting good manners in his fright, didn't even trouble to rise.

"Very nice," said the man whom Narcissa never got round to introduce, between his teeth. "And who is with you, Holy Father?"

"He is my… parishioner. His relatives asked me to look after him today. They can't take him on visits with them, he's… mentally affected."

"Mad?"

"Yes. And, in addition, a deaf-mute. Sometimes we come to visit the poor widow. You know, I admire this woman. Such courage in the face of misfortune…"

"Everything is in God's hands," the guest agreed cheerfully , sitting down. "Yes, this woman certainly invokes sympathy. I suppose her late husband was a man of worth."

"To the highest degree," confirmed the minister, stepping on the deafmute parishioner's feet under the table with all his might. "Very worthy".

"I am very glad to hear that. All the more so since I am going to take the young mister with me".

"Where?" asked the deafmute, getting an elbow in the ribs from the minister.

But it was too late.

"Sorry?" asked the guest, his eyebrows raised.

"I asked you where you are going to take him," Snape repeated the question as if nothing had happened. Quietly, he took his wand out under the table and cast "Silencio" on Lucius.

The characteristic pop of Apparation sounded in the hall. Narcissa stared at the door in fear.

"Lucius, have you decided to surpass yourself in arrogance?" asked the Dark Lord menacingly as he entered the parlor. "Why the devil have you run away?! I have a holiday…"

"Is he another of your parishioners?" the guest asked Snape, completely unfazed by the newcomer's red eyes and noseless face.

"There is … an asylum nearby," quietly answered the Professor, hoping that the beloved Lord wouldn't hear him. "The inmates are sometimes let out during the holidays."

"I am the Dark Lord Voldemort," the future ruler of the world said, politely introducing himself.

"I feel highly honored," the old man said with a wide smile, bowing slightly. "And I am Julius Caesar. Now we're acquainted."

"I've heard something about you," the Dark Lord screwed up his face. "Don't remember…"

"I have to go. I was very glad to see you, my dear."

"I'll walk you over." Narcissa sprang to her feet.

"I'll write you, my child," said the old man, going into the hall and gently kissing Narcissa on the forehead. "The sooner you'll leave this place, the better. Both for you and for your boy".

"We'll never conquer this country this way, let alone the entire world," a voice sounded from the parlor. "Irish vampires are mutinous again and Giants refuse to serve me".

"Are they really let out only during the holidays?"

"Yes," answered "the poor widow".

"You're a very brave woman. I will write you."

"Yes," Narcissa agreed, lifting her hands in dismay.

"I hope he won't change his mind about the will," she thought, closing the door. "Who would have thought that the local asylum would be so useful?"