Chapter 61. The Date. Part 1. Provocation
Severus had barely finished the Grimoire by morning, and without a moment's rest, immediately began preparing for his upcoming meeting. After all, he planned to make this day unforgettable for a certain dark-haired lady named Black.
He avoided anything bright or ornate, choosing darker tones instead. Black trousers, tall boots, a long gray cloak, and a dark sweater suited the season; winter was approaching, and the air had already grown quite cool.
Two hours later, he left the shop and headed for Gringotts, leaving an offended Nagini at home. He had promised her two days ago that he would take her out the following weekend.
At the same time, a rather gloomy Bella stood by the bank, constantly casting sharp glances at the clock in the neighboring shop. Even the goblin at the entrance decided to keep his distance, just to be safe. Passersby stared oddly at Bella; she wore a belted dress and kid gloves that stopped short of her elbows, and her entire outfit was black. If not for the missing hat and scarf and the irritated expression on her face, many would have mistaken her for a widow who had recently lost her husband.
10:32. "What kind of man makes a woman wait?" Black thought angrily. She had come early, expecting to see Severus standing there with a bouquet of flowers, but he was nowhere in sight. If it weren't for my lord's orders, I wouldn't have come here at all! I need to squeeze every bit of information out of him that I can. Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm down. "He'll definitely be here soon."
After twenty minutes of waiting, which dragged on like an eternity, she finally noticed him in the crowd, smiling as he walked toward her with a bouquet of roses.
Clenching her trembling hands, she tried to regain her composure.
"Miss Black, you look simply charming, as always," he said, holding out the bouquet and giving her a slight nod.
"And you weren't in much of a hurry," Bella Black snorted with faint irritation as she accepted it, but the next moment, to her surprise, the flowers fell apart into petals and began circling around her, releasing a soft, pleasant scent. Little by little, she started to calm down.
"I thought plain flowers wouldn't surprise you."
At his words, she quickly schooled her features into an impassive mask, even though she had enjoyed the spectacle, and her earlier annoyance at his tardiness began to fade.
"And where are we going?"
"To the Muggle world," he replied with a smile, and her mood immediately sank again. "I'm sure you already know Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley like the back of your hand, don't you? I want to surprise you."
Thinking it over, and to her own surprise, she agreed. She had rarely ventured into the Muggle world, only on assignment, and even then she tried not to stay any longer than necessary.
"Well then, Miss Black, will you come with me?" He extended his hand with a self-satisfied smile.
"As if I have a choice?" she snapped, glaring at him with contempt. Still, she placed her slender hand in his, and they both vanished.
At the same time, the goblin at the bank entrance watched the whole scene and spat irritably onto the floor.
"Damn humans." A moment later, after taking a few steps, he tripped on perfectly level ground and fell face-first into his own spit.
When they appeared on a long suspension bridge in the very center of London, Severus let go of her hand only to wrap an arm around her waist. In response, she hissed like a cat whose tail had been stepped on and tried to wrench herself free, but it was useless; he was far too strong for her.
"So, tell me, how are things at work?" She hadn't met a man this brazen and audacious in a long time. "And is it all right that we left your friends there?"
"They followed me of their own accord once they heard I was going with you," Bella answered in a restrained tone, forcing herself to pull herself together and ignore his hand on her. "And maybe you'll tell me about yourself?"
"Of course, but there's nothing special about me," he said with a smile, winking at her. "I'm still studying at Hogwarts, or more precisely, just staying there. I study potion-making with Professor Slughorn, because they won't teach me anything beyond what I can find in books anyway, and I've already learned how to handle a wand." He stopped on the bridge, lifted his gaze to the clear blue sky, then looked down at the river flowing beneath them, where a ship was passing under the bridge. "By the way, not a bad view, isn't it?"
"Nothing special, and don't try to change the subject."
"Oh, oh, oh, you caught me. By the way, it's quite cool today. Aren't you cold?"
"Again?"
"I'm really worried about you. What if you catch a cold? Although maybe that would even be for the best. Then I could take care of you: wipe away your sweat, spoon-feed you, and stay right by your side."
"I was thinking, maybe I should demonstrate the Avada Kedavra curse to you," she said, reaching for her wand.
"I'm joking. What did you want to hear? How about this: one question from you, one from me, taking turns. What do you say?" Severus suggested, looking into the gloomy lady's eyes.
After thinking for a moment, she decided it was acceptable. Besides, she could always lie whenever she wanted.
"All right. Then I'll go first."
"Please."
"How did you become like this?"
"Thanks to a certain potion. Sorry, but I won't tell you the recipe. It's my teacher's secret, and I doubt anyone would willingly endure the pain of being boiled from the inside. The sensations are simply indescribable." Bella shuddered at his words. "I wouldn't wish that happiness on anyone."
"I see."
"So, since we are supposedly on a date, no negative emotions," he murmured, pulling her closer and breathing into her ear. She squeaked, elbowed him, and then glared up at him menacingly. A blush flushed her cheeks, visible against her pale face. "Now, my question." The smile vanished, replaced by a grim seriousness that made Bella swallow. "What cuisine do you like?"
"What?" At his question, Black froze for a moment. "Cuisine?" She had expected anything, even a question about her lord, but not this.
"Yes. There are quite a few restaurants in London, and I don't want to make a mistake. After all, this is our first date."
"And you think there will be another one?"
"Of course. Did you really think I'd tell you everything about myself at our very first meeting?" he asked, smiling brightly. "And you still haven't answered my question."
"Italian," she said, tutting in displeasure as she turned away.
"Unexpected. I thought you weren't a fan of Muggle food."
"That's none of your business. Now it's my turn," she snapped, looking at him with irritation. "Who is your teacher?"
"Ooh. I thought you'd lead up to that gradually, but all right, I'll answer. His name is Amon Ihiros, a powerful wizard and a master swordsman."
Bella frowned again. She'd never heard that name, and that could mean either he was a hermit who'd lived somewhere in the wilderness, not surprising for wizards, or he'd come from another country, which also couldn't be ruled out.
Now it's my turn. What should I ask? Hmm. I know. How did you sink so low?
"What do you mean?"
"That you started serving Voldemort?"
She didn't like how she'd phrased it, but she stayed silent for now.
"He is handsome." A corpse's face flashed through Severus's mind: completely white, without a nose or hair.
"You have strange tastes, but all right, go on."
"His cruelty and ruthlessness."
"More accurately, it's madness, but continue." Noticing the sidelong look she gave him, he nodded with a smile, and she returned to that dreamy, adoring expression.
"His strength."
So there's the first point.
"Maybe you should stop interrupting me already?" she demanded, irritation sharpening her voice. "Or did you think you could ever compare with him?" she added with a mocking smile. A moment later, she was pressed against the guard booth at the beginning of the bridge. "You're angry that he's better than you."
"No, I merely find it amusing that you would compare that creature to me." Severus knocked the dagger from her hand with ease, then looked into her eyes, blazing with fury, a mocking smile playing across his lips. "A madman who split his soul into pieces chasing delusions of immortality while slowly losing his mind. He disfigured his own face, lied to his followers about his blood status, and bound them to him with dark artifacts, purchasing their loyalty with lies and fear. What is there to envy?" he added calmly. "Tell me, where am I wrong? I haven't even mentioned that he personally killed his parents and framed his only relative, which is why he was sent to Azkaban. I haven't even touched on his skill at manipulating elderly women. Tom ceased to be human long ago. He is a greedy monster incapable of feeling; even if you were killed before his very eyes, he would not care. No, perhaps he would be slightly saddened at losing such a valuable pawn from the wealthy, pure-blood Black family, since he would no longer be able to dip his hands into your vault. I doubt Walburga would be pleased to part with the family Galleons. Well, what do you say? Point out even one instance where I was wrong?"
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