Chapter 56. Masquerade Ball. Part 2. Dance
Standing in the corner of the hall, Bella wearily watched everything, doing her best not to draw anyone's attention. Even though she was an aristocrat, she had never liked events like this, and if it hadn't been for Walburga, she wouldn't have come at all.
Besides, Bella had her own problems, one of them was the hunt for that bastard who was producing those artifacts. She should never have agreed to this assignment. But after almost three months of investigation, she hadn't gotten much further than Lestrange. Even search rituals did not help, as if whoever was making them had erased every trace, leaving nothing behind. The only specimen they managed to recover from a wizard's body exploded when they tried to dismantle it, leaving the artificer without hands.
But even that was not the worst of it. Enduring the Cruciatus Curse as punishment for failing the assignment was not particularly difficult, though one thing was odd: the pain. Yes, Bella felt it, but it was purely physical. It barely touched her mind the way it once had, and thinking became much easier, as if someone had lifted a thin veil from her thoughts. What was most unpleasant, what stirred unbearable fury, was that this had started that day, the day she met him, the man who drove her mad simply by being near her. He was the man who dared to kiss her, a filthy half-blood who dared to touch her.
Yet even through all that hatred, Bella did not lose her rationality. She understood it was his doing, or at least that he was connected to it. No matter how much she wanted to torture Severus, to beat the truth out of him, she could not, because the Dark Lord's order was to draw him to their side by any means. Severus was a decent battle mage, with enormous potential in potion-making, and he was one of the best students in his year. Pawns like that were worth having.
And though the news that the recipes had fallen into the Ministry's hands threw Voldemort into a real fury, he did not immediately charge at full speed to take the half-blood's head. He decided to wait. The potions Lucius had bought up, which Voldemort still received quite regularly, were enough for now. There had been no real clashes between the Death Eaters and the Ministry, only small skirmishes, though the Order of the Phoenix's interference had ruined many plans.
But there was another reason the Dark Lord had not tried to seize the recipes by force and put Severus to work churning out potions under the Imperius Curse. That reason was a report from Barty Crouch Junior, one of the Death Eaters who served as Voldemort's agent in the enemy camp, and the son of Barty Crouch Senior, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
From the report, Voldemort learned of the father's plan and its spectacular failure. The boy had even gotten off without punishment after striking a highly profitable deal. And following the Lestrange brothers' investigation, Voldemort learned of the incident with the gangs in Diagon Alley. Then the Dark Lord understood why the Ministry, with all its military might, had decided to make peace with a mere wizard who had not even finished school. It was not kindness. It was fear, fear of a confrontation with a powerful wizard, or with the group of wizards backing Severus.
That conclusion formed the basis for the decision to have Bella continue watching him, and, if possible, to draw him to their side. They already had enough enemies, practically the entire magical world of Britain.
Clicking her tongue in irritation, Bella shot an angry glare at a group of wizards who had been stealing glances at her a few seconds earlier. They flinched and looked away.
How they annoy me, and what does Narcissa see in him?
"Miss Black, are you bored?" a cheerful male voice asked, with a playful edge. Bella's eye twitched. She turned toward the speaker and raised an eyebrow, faintly surprised. The stranger's costume looked odd.
"And you are?"
"Your secret admirer, because the moment I saw you, I fell head over heels." He took her hand and kissed it. "Would you do me the honor of granting me one dance?"
"Hmph!" Bella yanked her hand back, snorted, and turned away. "Disappear, or else."
"Miss Black, I cannot. I will never forget the taste of your lips."
At those words, Bella nearly tripped on flat ground. She stared in shock at the red-haired young man.
"You?!"
"Me. Who else could it be?" Severus stepped closer and offered his open palm. "Do you think there's anyone in this hall who would dare invite you to dance besides me?"
"If I could, I would." Bella clenched her fists, hatred burning in her eyes.
"I know. So, what do you say about the dance, or should I take payment?"
"Tch!" Bella placed her palm on his and dipped into a slight bow. "I accept your invitation," she hissed through clenched teeth, looking straight into his eyes.
The guests were genuinely shocked. Everyone knew of Bellatrix Black's sadistic temper, so almost no one dared approach her, fearing she might cast a spell at them. There were countless stories about Bella's fondness for the Cruciatus Curse. What Severus had done seemed miraculous, for the last time Bella had danced with anyone was nearly a decade ago. Now this oddly dressed man was leading Bella away, and when they stopped and Severus placed his arm around her, most onlookers held their breath. But the expected explosion never came. Bella placed her hand on Severus's shoulder as well, smiling, or so it appeared to the crowd. Narcissa and Regulus could see clearly: Bella was barely restraining her anger, and both felt a strange respect for him.
Then the music resumed. They took the first step together, and though Bella tried to lead, she failed each time. The disparity between them was too great. Even so, Bella refused to yield easily.
At times the simple waltz became an actual battle. Their movements sharpened, and the distance between them widened and then shrank until they brushed against each other. Connoisseurs noticed, of course, and alongside their surprise, faint smiles flickered across their faces, smiles they struggled to hide.
Each new attempt by Bella to take the lead met with fierce resistance from Severus. Somewhere deep down, Bella was even surprised by his skill, but it softened nothing. If anything, it only pushed her harder.
Three turns, and again the distance between them collapsed, their faces inches apart. One wore a smug smile, the other only displeasure. The tempo changed again, the steps grew faster, and neither intended to yield.
After a few minutes, the struggle ended, but as the music faded, their bodies remained pressed closely. Severus's lips hovered inches from Bella's. It was a complete defeat for her. With a scowl, and without the former hatred, Bella bit her lower lip, pulled away, forced her expression back into place, bowed with a slight lift of her dress, and walked toward the corner.
"Miss Black, that was a wonderful dance. I hope you will not mind keeping me company again sometime in the future?"
"If we happen to meet again," Bella replied without turning around. She paused for a moment, and there was a hint of threat in her voice that made him smile.
"Of course. I'll do everything in my power to ensure it happens again."
"Hmph!"
The guests watched the exchange with amusement, some even clapping. But not everyone was pleased. Among those displeased were the Lestrange brothers, Rabastan and Rodolphus, the latter being Bella's fiancé. Both burned holes in his back with their glares, their fists clenched tight.
Walburga Black, current head of the family, was another. She had arranged this marriage between the families. To have some unknown person openly flirt with Bellatrix in front of everyone was a slap in the face to Walburga. She summoned two servants and ordered them to learn everything they could about the guest in the strange costume.
With a satisfied smile, Severus returned to the table where Regulus sat.
"Sorry. I drew unwanted attention. Now you'll probably catch it from your mother."
"You don't look guilty," Regulus snorted, met the elderly woman's gaze for a heartbeat, flinched, and hurriedly looked away. "She'll definitely torture me over your identity."
"Don't worry. You can tell her about me, but warn your cousin first. I'm sure Bella will help you. Your training will just get that much harsher."
Regulus nearly howled. He understood that all too well. Deep down, he regretted inviting Severus, but the feeling was fleeting.
"All right, I'll survive somehow, and it's probably for the best. But I have one question. How?!"
"What do you mean, how?"
"How did you do it?! Bella is a beast. The last person who tried to invite her to dance ended up in St. Mungo's for three months! And you're still alive, and you're smiling."
"Regulus, my young friend, you're still too young to understand." Severus gave a fatherly smile, patted Regulus on the shoulder, and looked toward the stage. "Tell me instead why you started this foolish game? Do you really think I don't realize that all the families gathered here are Death Eaters?" At those words, Regulus flinched and went pale.
"When did you figure it out?"
"From the beginning, when you invited me. Your behavior was suspicious, so I asked someone to check who else had received invitations." In truth, Severus had simply read Regulus's thoughts that day when the invitation arrived.
"You didn't trust me from the start."
There is a saying: "Trust, but verify." I might not have checked anything if you hadn't acted so suspiciously. Seeing Regulus lower his head, unable to meet his eyes, Severus nodded with satisfaction. "Remember this, once and for all. I'm not going to interfere in this foolish war started by that creature. Even if it somehow wins, I'll just move to another country. That's all. If you keep trying to drag me into this meaningless game, our friendship ends. Was I clear?" Severus punctuated the last words with a wave of bloodlust. Regulus flinched and nodded.
"If you knew, then why did you come?" Regulus forced a crooked smile.
"For Bella, of course, and to see her fiancé. Nothing more. I hope we understand each other?"
"Yes, Sorry."
"Good. Then I'm going." Severus glanced at the head of the Black family, who still hadn't taken her eyes off him. "Someone's going to eat me alive soon. Anyway, good luck. Consider this punishment for deceiving me." Severus patted Regulus's shoulder one last time and headed for the exit. Just then, four more wizards followed him, and both the dark-haired lady and Severus himself noticed.
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