Chapter 38: Dance of The Serpents

The Corridors, Hogwarts...

Lucius Malfoy stormed the corridors of Hogwarts. His face held a blank expression and his gray eyes had been filled with intense focus. The albino blonde had been eerily calm. As he neared the door to the infirmary the sound of a woman's voice caught his attention. He whirled around and found himself looking into the dark eyes of Lady Hamershal. The handsome albino wizard glared at the older witch. This was the second time he had seen her sniffing around Hogwarts. The first time had been when he arrived at Dumbledore's office to help restore Snape's memories.

"Don't look so surprised, Lucius." said Lady Hamershal.

"I assure you, I am not." replied the senior Malfoy.

He did not trust this woman and he had not liked the idea of her being around Snape.

"Why are you here?" he asked her.

"Isn't it obvious." replied Lady Hamershal. "I came to see my son."

Lucius glared at her.

"Your son?" he asked not at all convinced.

"Yes Lucius, my son." she replied.

"And just who is your son?" asked the senior Malfoy.

"Why Severus of course." replied Lady Hamershal.

Lucius raised an eyebrow in a manner similar Snape.

"You expect me to believe that you are Severus' mother?" he asked.

Lady Hamershal did not seem put out by him not being convinced.

"I am the mother of Severus Snape, yes." said Lady Hamershal. "Wither you believe it or wither you don't makes no difference to me."

Lucius scoffed.

"If your his mother then where have you been all these years?" he asked.

"the one you refer to as the dark lord was quite a formidable foe." said Lady Hamershal. "I've spent countless years combating him and his allies."

Lucius narrowed his eyes at the older witch.

"If you indeed are Severus' mother than perhaps you wouldn't mind if I asked you a few questions." he said.

"Is that not what you have been doing since you arrived Mr. Malfoy?" asked Lady Hamershal emotionless. "Very well, I shall humor you as they say."

"What is his favorite color?" asked Lucius.

"Midnight blue." replied Lady Hamershal in a bored tone.

Lucius had been impressed but tried not to show it. Most people would have immediately chosen black due to his preference of attire.

"What is his favorite painting?" asked Lucius.

"Starry Night" by the Muggle artist Vincent Van Gough." replied Lady Hamershal without missing a beat.

Lucius knew this to be true as well. Snape had often kept replicas of the painting when ever he stayed over at the manor in his guest room, in the front room of his private, and one in his office here at Hogwarts.

"What's his favorite song?" asked Lucius.

"Moonlight sonata." replied Lady Hamershal still in a bored tone. She made a show of examining her finger nails. "Ludwig van Beethoven, also happens to be his favorite composer."

Lucius was becoming annoyed with Lady Hamershal. She seemed to know a great deal about Severus but there was no way she knew him better than he had.

"Who was the first witch he ever bedded?" asked the senior Malfoy.

"Lily Evans." replied Lady Hamershal. "She was always such a lovely girl...a pity she chose Potter, such a tragic waste."

"What's his Animagus form?" asked Lucius.

"A very impressive black panther." replied Lady Hamershal. "Quite the charming little thing, wouldn't you say Lucius?"

"What instrument does he play?" asked Lucius.

"Severus, is fond of the piano Lucius." said Lady Hamershal smugly. "I should know, I am the one that taught him how to play."

The senior Malfoy had been irate, but knew better than to show it.

"Where is he?" asked Lucius.

"All out of test questions?" asked Lady Hamershal.

"Just answer my question." said the senior Malfoy.

Remus Lupin had happened upon the scene and found it to be quite a curious sight.

"Lucius." he said.

Malfoy turned his attention toward the werewolf.

"Remus." he said pleased to see a friendly face. "Where is Severus?"

"He's in the infirmary." replied Lupin. "H-He's not doing too well...I-I don't even think he remembers much about what happened."

Lucius sighed.

"I-Is he alright?" he asked with his voice rich in concern. "Can I see him?"

Lupin nodded.

"I believe Albus and Minerva are in with him." said the DADA Professor. "I'm sure they wouldn't mind letting you have a few moments with him."

Lucius cast a glare in Lady Hamershal's direction.

"It appears Eileen has resurfaced." he said. "What do you make of her?"

"Snape seemed to trust her judgment." replied Lupin. "And she helped up save Miss Granger."

Lucius looked as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"Something is was wrong with Miss Granger?" he asked with an arched brow.

"Yes." replied Lupin.

Lucius' gray eyes suddenly flared with rage.

"Rodolphus." he said in a bitter tone. "He's behind this...he was always looking for a way to hurt Severus...Miss Granger was..."

Lupin sighed.

"I know." he said.

Lucius was even more confused by this.

"What do you mean you know?" he asked.

"I know everything." said Lupin.

The senior Malfoy looked at Lady Hamershal for a moment.

"I suppose she does as well." he said still in that bitter tone.

"We are all on the same side." said Lady Hamershal. "We all want the best for Severus."

"No, I want the best for Severus." said Lucius in a manner that oddly reminded Lady Hamershal of Draco Malfoy's behavior back at her estate. "You are just here to pick his bones like the vulture you are...and you Lupin...I have no idea why you suddenly decided to care about him after all you and those friends of yours did to him."

"Lucius...please." said Lupin softly. "I know that you're upset...and while it is true that we haven't been there for him like you have but we're here now."

The senior Malfoy scoffed and made his way toward the infirmary. If anything had been seriously wrong with Severus then Rodolphus LeStrange was going to pay and it would take more than parlor tricks and spilled blood to stay the wrath of Lucius Malfoy.