IV: Lunch at Malfoy Manor

Chapter IV: Lunch at Malfoy Manor

The next morning, Charis was sitting in the library, surrounded by – and hiding behind – a huge stack of books. She had decided that the library was probably the safest place to be. Snape was always busy in his private lab on Saturday morning, and he was the last person Charis wanted to meet that day.

Charis was still confused and hurt by the whole episode in the dungeon. The Butterbeer was responsible for clouding her judgement to some degree, but there was no denying Snape had encouraged her, and had flirted with her, even. What she could not understand was how he changed from purring seducer to heartless bastard in the blink of an eye. Had she misread his signals? Had she done something to upset him? Maybe the sight of her body had repulsed him.

She was so absorbed by her thoughts that she never heard her friend sneak up on her.

'Boo!'

Charis shrieked and slammed her book shut. 'God, Morgana, don't do that!'

The red-haired Slytherin grinned. 'Are we nervous today, Ms Byrne?'

The drawling tone of Morgana's voice and the way she used her last name made Charis shiver, and she quickly opened her book again. Should she tell Morgana what Snape had done to her? Or should she keep her mouth shut and pretend that nothing ever happened?

'How was detention?' Morgana asked as she slumped down on a chair, carefully closing her travelling cloak around her legs. 'Did you get to scrub cauldrons or chop Flobberworms?'

'Well, um ...' Charis squirmed. She would have preferred not to tell, not yet anyway. What had happened the night before was highly embarrassing. And as much as she trusted Morgana, re-telling those events made her still very uncomfortable. But now Morgana had asked, and she would not let her friend off the hook without an answer.

'Well, um,' Charis started again. 'Snape ... he made me do something in front of him.'

Morgana's right eyebrow shot up, and she leant over the table, an interested look on her face. 'Do something? Dance? Sing a song? What?'

Charis' voice dropped to a whisper. 'He made me touch myself.'

Morgana' eyes widened, and she had to cover her mouth with her hands not to burst out laughing. 'He made you do what?!'

'Honestly, it was like he'd charmed me,' Charis blurted out, her cheeks going from pink to crimson. 'He was talking to me the whole time, asking me to describe what I'd like him to do to me.'

Morgana lowered her hands, a look of amusement mixed with shock on her face. 'What you'd like him to do to you? You didn't tell him, now did you?'

Charis blushed. 'I couldn't help it!' she wailed. 'His voice was in my ear, rich and smooth. And he was standing so close I could feel the heat from him.'

'And so you just masturbated? Right there in front of him?' Morgana was now biting her lip. This was just too amusing.

Charis lowered her gaze. She had hoped for some comfort from her friend. Having Morgana laugh at her was the last thing she needed. She tried hard to fight the tears that were now threatening to prick at her eyes.

'You don't understand,' she whimpered. 'He just has this power. I couldn't have said no if I wanted to!'

'For fuck's sake, Charis!' All of a sudden Morgana sounded angry. 'You should not have given him that much power over you. You know how he is.'

Yes, Charis knew. And she was ashamed. Not so much because Snape had seen her masturbate but that she had let him.

Then she felt Morgana take her hand, and her friend's voice was suddenly much softer. 'And Snape, what did he do?'

'He was urging me on with his voice. It was seriously horny, Morgana! But then, afterwards, I mean after I ... you know ... He went ice cold. Told me I was needy.'

Morgana snorted. 'Well, he was right about that, wasn't he?'

Charis flinched. That was exactly why she had not wanted to tell Morgana. She had known that her friend would not understand. This would never have happened to her. She was too calculating, too much in control of her emotions to ever let a man have such powers over her.

'Charis, look at me!' Morgana suddenly demanded. And Charis lifted her gaze. Gone was every trace of amusement from Morgana's face, and it had been replaced by a look of concern. 'Charis, did he touch you?'

Charis shook her head. 'No. But he was very, very close to me. And he was whispering in my ear ...'

Morgana cocked an eyebrow. 'Was he ... aroused?'

Charis blushed. 'His voice was getting thicker and hoarser. And I could feel his bulge against my thigh. But as soon as I came, he just went cold.'

'And then he just threw you out?'

Charis nodded.

'No hidden invitations to stay?'

'No. But he gave me twenty points for my enthusiasm to please,' Charis said wretchedly, looking down at the desk once more.

'Seems like the rumours are true then, that Snape doesn't sleep with students ...'

She seemed to be about to say something more, but the striking of the bell stroke cut her short. It was a quarter to eleven.

'I should get going,' she announced. 'Snape will throw a fit if I am late.'

Charis grabbed her friend by the arm. 'Be careful, Morgana. There might be loads of Death Eaters at Malfoy Manor.'

Morgana sneered. 'Oh, dear Lucius will look out for me.'

'Dear Lucius?' Charis frowned. 'Are you on a first name basis with Lucius Malfoy?'

Morgana narrowed her eyes, seemed to weigh her words carefully. 'Lucius and I ... well, you know I have been to Malfoy Manor before.'

'Morgana, Lucius Malfoy is a dangerous man! Everybody knows that! And something tells me this invite is not about services to the community.'

Morgana freed her arms from her friend's grip. Charis had no idea about anything that had happened at Malfoy Manor during the summer, but one thing was for sure, it was most definitely not about services to the community.

'There is no need to worry, Charis. Lucius Malfoy has every reason to be nice to me. And besides, Snape will be there. And one can say a lot about him, but he always looks out for his students.'

* * *

Morgana was immediately told to enter when she knocked at the door of Professor Snape's study. He, too, was already wearing his travelling cloak.

'I am glad you are punctual for a change, Ms Belakane. It would be the height of rudeness to turn up late to lunch at Malfoy Manor.'

Morgana bit back a retort. He had no reason to chide her for tardiness. She was never late. But she knew her Head of House well enough to know that this was not a good time to argue with him. The line between his eyebrows was deeper than ever, and his jaw was set. He looked positively pissed.

He passed her a box of Floo powder and nodded towards the empty grate. 'After you.'

Morgana closed her eyes and took a deep breath before calling out the words Malfoy Manor. She had a strange feeling in the pit of her stomach. A feeling that told her that by the end of this afternoon, her life would look completely different. But there was not time to think and definitely no way to talk herself out of this lunch.

When she opened her eyes again, she found herself in the dining room of Malfoy Manor. She had been there before, but the huge oil paintings on the wall and the thick green drapes by the windows still gave her the creeps. So did the sinister figures that were now gathered around the antique mahogany dining table.

Lucius Malfoy rose from his chair in a fluid motion and hurried to take Morgana's hand to kiss it.

'Morgana, Severus. I am so glad you could join us. Elf!'

Morgana did not really want to take off her cloak. The dress she was wearing was way too short, revealed too much of her legs and she was highly uncomfortable in it. Plus she had had to perform a basic glamour charm to try and cover up the huge bruises from her Quidditch injuries on her legs. But Lucius had had the dress made for her and owled it to Hogwarts the night before. It would have been a grave insult not to wear it, and she knew better than to cross him. He was eying her now with unashamed lust, and she heard some of the men around the table grunt approvingly. And she did not miss the sneer on Snape's face either.

She let her gaze wander over the round of men sitting around the table. Most of them she had already met last summer. Avery, Crabbe and Goyle were on Malfoy's right, and on the far end of the table, Morgana caught sight of the only woman in the room: Bella! Bat shit crazy Bellatrix Lestrange, absentmindedly playing with her wand, her dark, bright eyes glittering menacingly. Now that woman would not be as easily charmed as the rest of the guests.

When Lucius pulled out a chair for her, Morgana tilted her head and gave him her sweetest smile. 'Tell me, Lucius, what gives me the honour to be invited?'

'The honour, my darling, is ours,' Lucius replied, his fingers softly brushing against her shoulders as she sat down. 'We are always on the look-out for the bravest and like-minded Slytherins to spend some time with.'

He swept around the table and took his seat before he continued. 'Professor Snape here tells me you are most capricious at school but still maintain the highest grades. That's the kind of person we find ... agreeable.'

'That is high praise coming from Professor Snape.' Morgana stated, inclining her head towards Snape, who was sitting to her right. 'Normally, he tells me that I cannot do anything right.'

The men around the table laughed, and Snape took the opportunity to discreetly give his charge some words of advice:

'I strongly advise you to watch your tongue here, Ms Belakane,' he hissed. 'Most of these men have no scruples. Avery here, for example, is up women's skirts like a rat up a drainpipe. Especially short skirts.'

Morgana oppressed a grin and pretended to be very interested in whatever anecdote Lucius was sharing with his acquaintances. She had, however, only ears for Snape.

'You may already have noticed that Bella does not take too kindly to female competition,' Snape went on, busying himself with his napkin so no one would notice him talking to Morgana. 'I would be on your guard against her. She sees herself as the first woman of the Death Eaters and likes to have all the male attention to herself.'

Morgana leant a little bit closer to her Head of House, covering up her movement by moving her glass from one side of her plate to the other.

'Professor, why am I here?'

'Lucius requested your company,' Snape murmured. 'As I saw from your performance earlier, you two are already acquainted.'

Morgana ignored his sneer and pressed on. 'This still does not explain why he wants me to meet the gang.'

'As I said, Ms Belakane, you ought to be careful. It appears Lucius may see you as a Death Eater in the making. Whatever extra-marital activities he may engage in with you, bear in mind that he does not love you and would not think twice about passing you on to the Dark Lord.' And for the first time during their conversation, Snape turned his head and looked at his student. 'If you mess with fire, you will get burned, Ms Belakane.'

Morgana narrowed her eyes. Had Snape just accused her of sleeping with Lucius Malfoy? Why would he even come up with that idea?

'You are young, naïve and inexperienced in the ways of the Dark Arts,' Snape growled. 'As for your experience in other areas, I believe your reputation speaks for itself.'

Morgana grabbed her napkin tightly to keep her hands from shaking as cold anger rushed through her. Had her Head of House just called her a slut? How dare he?! Her first impulse was to slap him in the face right there and then, but she thought better of it. This was indeed a dangerous crowd she was having lunch with, and she needed Snape by her side. She swallowed her anger and looked him straight in the eyes. 'Can I count on you to be there for me if I need you?'

'Unquestioningly, Ms Belakane,' Snape replied, his voice somewhat softer. 'I am here to look out for you. There is, however, only so much I can do. If you open your mouth and promise yourself to the Dark Lord, there is little I will be able to do to save you. So think before you speak in this company.'

Just when Morgana was about to tell Snape that she was aware of the rules of the game, the food appeared on the table, and Lucius got up to speak to his guests.

'I do not stand on ceremony with friends. Please, help yourselves.'

Morgana filled her plate with some pieces of roast chicken, vegetables and dauphenoise potatoes, skipped the wine and filled her glass with pumpkin juice instead. Then, carefully, tentatively, she waved her hand over her plate. She had never eaten anything at Malfoy Manor without checking it for any drugs or poison and had hidden her wand in the long sleeve of her dress for just this reason. Studying Defence Against the Dark Arts with paranoid Professor Moody for a year had obviously rubbed off.

When she looked up from her plate, she noticed Snape looking at her and giving her an almost imperceptible nod. It was the first time this afternoon that he seemed to approve of what she was doing.

'So, Morgana,' Avery suddenly piped up, his mouth full of unchewed food. 'What NEWTs are you taking?'

'I am taking Potions, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Charms, Transfiguration and Runes.'

Avery leered. 'Quite the Slytherin then, eh?'

Morgana raised an eyebrow. 'I beg your pardon?'

'Following in your Head of House's footsteps with Potions and DADA.'

A small ripple of laughter went around the table, and Morgana frowned. Whatever did Avery mean?

Lucius presented the explanation. 'Are you implying Morgana has a crush on her teacher, Avery?'

Once more, laughter erupted around the table, but Morgana did not join in. And neither did Snape. In fact, the look on his face could not have been any darker.

'I am hoping to become an Auror,' Morgana explained. 'That's why I am taking Potions and DADA.'

'But why Runes?' Avery asked.

'To challenge the mind.'

'Nothing challenging from a bunch of old stones,' Bella noted dryly, and the men around the table sniggered.

Morgana bit her lip. 'It would make a bad impression on my Head of House if I admitted that I am taking Runes to get some easily earned academic credits, wouldn't it?'

Snape sneered. 'I would expect nothing less.'

To that, Lucius chuckled. 'Oh, always so cruel, Severus.'

Morgana lowered her gaze and decided to keep her mouth shut for the rest of the meal. She was feeling uncomfortable enough, and the last thing she needed was Snape chiding her once again.

* * *

In contrast to the dining room, the drawing room seemed almost cosy with its chintzy chairs and sofas. And the Tiffin and fine Swiss chocolate Lucius' elf was offering with the brandy did indeed look delicious.

Snape positioned himself in the middle of one of the sofas, giving Morgana the tiniest of nods in order for her to join him, and she thankfully followed his invitation. Despite his snide remarks during lunch, it was most comforting to know that he was close by, watching out for her.

'Oh gods, Lucius,' Bella suddenly moaned. 'This Tiffin is so good, I've nearly come right here!'

Avery gave a bark of laughter, and Morgana bit her lips not to laugh. Seeing one of the most powerful dark witches in Britain coming undone because of a sweet was more than amusing.

'Having fun, Ms Belakane?' Snape murmured, leaning in to offer Morgana some Tiffin.

'This is a rather interesting gathering, sir,' she replied, looking around the room. Lucius appeared deeply in conversation with a knot of men, and Bella was flirting shamelessly with a leering Avery.

Almost without noticing, Morgana took a bite of the Tiffin and gasped. 'Merlin's pants. This is good!'

Snape smirked and gave her a look that made goosebumps erupt on her arms and her knees go weak. 'The Malfoy Tiffin is the stuff of legend, Ms Belakane. Dare I ask if it has the same effect on you as it does on Bella?'

Morgana raised her eyebrow, willing herself not to blush. Had Severus Snape just asked her if she was turned on? 'I am not that easily pleased, sir,' she replied with a slight grin.

Again, Snape smirked. 'Do not let Bella catch you saying that, Ms Belakane.'

Bella. Just the name made Morgana shudder. She knew that woman, had heard gruesome stories about her since her early childhood, and did not at all feel comfortable being in the same room as her. And still, every time their eyes met, she had a hard time turning away. It was as if Bella was calling for her, pulling her towards her, enchanting her.

She blinked and shifted her focus towards her Head of House. 'You have some chocolate on your cheek, sir.'

Snape's smirk disappeared and was replaced by a look of irritation. 'You are not my mother, Ms Belakane.'

'Hope not,' Morgana muttered. 'But by all means, leave it. It's said that dark chocolate is good for the skin.'

To that, Snape raised an eyebrow, and suddenly the smirk was back. 'I know something else that is good for the skin,' he whispered, his voice smooth as silk. 'Zinc'

Morgana couldn't help but blush. What the hell had gotten into Snape today? Snide remarks were one thing, but sexual insinuations? That was very much unlike him. She suspiciously eyed the glass of brandy Snape was holding in his hand. How many had he had? Three? Four? And just what effect, if any, did the Tiffin have on him?

* * *

By mid-afternoon, most of the guests had taken their farewells, and only Lucius, Avery, Bella, Snape and Morgana were left in the library.

Under other circumstances, this could have been called a cosy gathering: Snape and Morgana were still sitting side by side on the couch, Lucius was stretched out on a chaise longue, and Bella was sitting in Avery's lap, shamelessly grinding herself up against him. But Bella's eyes were on Morgana, and had been so for at least ten minutes

'You never told she was such a pretty thing, Severus,' she said in a falsely sweet tone, abandoning Avery's lap and making her way towards the couch, her hips swaying seductively. 'Those blue eyes, that pretty dress ... I can see why Lucius has taken a shine to you, little one.'

Morgana swallowed dryly. As much as she tried to, she found herself once more unable to take her eyes off Bella.

Slowly and with the grace of a cat, the Dark witch positioned herself beside Morgana on the sofa and stared stroking her hair. 'So young,' she purred. 'So sweet.'

'Watch your fingers, Bella,' Lucius chuckled, his eyes on Morgana's neckline. 'She doesn't like to be touched.'

Morgana felt every muscle in her body tense up. Yes, she hated it when people touched her without her permission. Why she reacted that way, she did not know. It had always been that way, and she did not even let Charis hug her. But the hunger she had seen in Lucius' eyes when Bella stroked her hair made her body scream out for physical contact, and Bella's fingers felt soft and warm against her skin.

Lucius shifted in his chair when Bella traced Morgana's neck with her long fingers. He seemed to enjoy the show, and suddenly Morgana wanted to be touched by Bella, wanted to touch her as well. Just because she knew that Lucius wanted it.

When Bella cupped her chin with her long fingers, Morgana took hold of them and moved them towards her lips. They tasted of Tiffin.

Bella leant forward, let her sweet little nose rub against Morgana's, her eyes closed and her lips slightly parted. And it took Morgana all her willpower to turn her head away. This didn't feel right. But she froze in mid-movement when she felt Bella's lips gently brush her cheek. Her lips were soft and their touch gentle, and Morgana wanted more.

Avery was now leaning forward in his chair, mouth hanging open and his erection clearly visible. And Lucius had sat up and crossed his legs, carefully disguising his own arousal. What Snape was up to, Morgana did not know. But she did not care. All she cared about at the moment was the sensation of Bella's lips against the sensitive skin of her neck and the way Lucius was looking at her.

He had made it very clear over the summer that he was interested in her, in her body. They had kissed, they had touched each other, and she had even licked his delicious cock and made him come right into her throat. But so far, she had denied him her body, had been the one in control. And she relished the power she held over him. And if she played her cards right, she would both expand her power and make Lucius want her even more.

She placed her right hand on Bella's thigh and leant in, started to place small, quick kisses on her collarbone. And her hand wandered upwards, up over Bella's thigh, her hip, her stomach until it reached her breasts. Bella moaned softly as Morgana continued nibbling at her neck, and her erect nipples were clearly visible thought the thin fabric of her robes.

'Ohhh ... you have done this before, haven't you, little one?'

Morgana did not answer but glided smoothly onto Bella's lap. When she lifted her head, her eyes met Snape's.

She had all but forgotten about him. She had been sitting with her back against him ever since Bella had sat down beside her, and he had not made a single sound. He was sitting rigidly, his face typically impassive. But his crossed legs and his laboured breathing told Morgana that he was just as aroused as the other two men.

For a moment, she considered stopping, sliding down from Bella's lap and letting Snape take her back to Hogwarts. Surely, he would not ask any questions but just get her away from Bella. And in case he was angry, she could always claim that she had been too scared of Bella to resist her.

But then Morgana changed her mind and an evil plan formed in her Slytherin mind. If she continued her seduction of Bellatrix Lestrange, she would not only make Lucius lay at her feet, but she would also avenge her best friend. Obviously, Snape liked to watch. She would let him.

She lowered her head again to suckle at Bella's neck, while her nimble fingers started undoing the ribbons of Bella's corset, pausing regularly to cup the woman's breasts and give them a gentle squeeze. Bella squirmed, and Morgana felt her buck her hips.

'Tell me what you want me to do to you, Bella,' she breathed before taking Bella's earlobe between her lips. 'Tell me.'

Bella moaned and moved her hands towards her chest to rip open her corset, exposing her small, pert breasts and rosy, little nipples. Her voice was hoarse when she spoke. 'What do you think I want you to do, little one?'

Morgana smirked. Oh, she knew very well what Bella wanted. Just as well as she knew what Lucius wanted. Once more she sunk her teeth into the soft flesh of Bella's neck, making the Dark witch moan in pleasure.

'I want you ... to do that ... on my breasts,' Bella panted.

If it had not been for Bella's laboured breathing, one could have heard a pin drop in the drawing room, and Morgana ventured to cast a glance over her shoulder. Lucius was still sitting with his legs crossed but leaning forward now. Avery on the other hand had slumped back in his chair, his eyes on Bella's nipples and his hand between his legs.

Morgana did not dare look at Snape, but she did not have to either. She could feel his eyes boring into her with the intensity of his gaze. What was he thinking, she wondered. Was he aroused by what he saw? Would he remember what she was doing to Bella and wish she was doing it to him when he lay in his bed later that night?

Morgana bent and started kissing Bella's breasts, carefully avoiding the sensitive tops, not caring how much Bella was squirming. She was in charge now. Slowly, she let her hand glide down over Bella's tummy, her hips, shifted her weight in order to pull up the witch's skirts. And then, without warning, she closed her lips around Bella's nipple, drawing a deep moan from the woman's lips.

'Oh gods,' Lucius exclaimed.

Morgana cast another quick glance over her shoulder. Avery had shamelessly unbuttoned his trousers and wrapped his hand around his hard cock. And Lucius was perched on the edge of his chair, his legs spread and his arousal clearly visible. And Morgana didn't need to see his eyes to know the desire that was burning in them. She had him completely under her spell.

'Touch me,' Bella whimpered, her hips bucking up against Morgana's hand. 'Touch me, now.'

Morgana slid down from Bella's lap and sunk to her knees between the witch's legs, her eyes now on her Head of House. He still looked indifferent, but as Morgana moved Bella's knickers to one side, she could see Snape's nostrils flare. And when she started tracing her fingers along Bella's swollen lips, he shifted in his seat and slowly uncrossed his legs just to cross them again seconds later.

'Oh, little one ...' Bella whimpered as Morgana's thumb brushed against her clit.

Morgana heard the rustling of robes behind her, and before she knew it, Lucius was kneeling beside her, his eyes on her fingers and his left hand resting on the small of her back. And as she continued caressing Bella's clit with her thumb, Lucius started tucking at her skirt and grinded himself up against her.

Morgana felt panic rise in her chest. She had managed to deny Lucius access to her body for almost half a year. She was not going to lose that power over him now. Swallowing dryly, she playfully nudged her hip against his impressive bulge and inclined her head towards Bella.

'Kiss her,' she whispered. To her surprise, Lucius did as he was told and latched onto Bella's lips, kissed her greedily until they were both moaning. Clearly, this was not the first time they had embraced in such a fashion.

When he shifted his weight and positioned himself between Bella's legs, Morgana withdrew. And she did not even manage to get up from the floor before Lucius had buried himself up to the hilt in Bella's hot flesh. Morgana tried to hide her shock as she steadied herself. What had she done?

Snape was by her side in a blink of an eye, and a quick look into Avery's direction assured them that there had never been a better time to make an exit. The man was wanking himself into ecstasy, and Lucius was thrusting into Bella, eyes closed and moaning with pleasure.

None of them ever noticed Snape grabbing Morgana by her arm and shoving her furiously towards the fireplace.

A/N: Special thanks go to PajamaPants for coming up with the expression "Bat Shit Crazy" Bellatrix Lestrange. It was so good, we simply had to use it!