Partners in Deception

A/N: Thanks to my beta not_london!

Then after their glorious month, suddenly, Genevieve started to become tired and thin. She said she was just sad. Severus tried to get her to talk to him about her parents, especially her mother's death, but she would only cry and refuse to eat or sleep. She stayed up nights stalking the corridors with Snape. Never talking, sometimes crying softly, she refused to let him into her troubles. Snape was happy to have her with him. At first, the thought crossed his mind to probe her mind, but was too afraid of ruining the relationship if she knew what he was about. Snape tried to get her to eat with him in the Great Hall, but she refused. He noticed her frame was becoming frail. Her dresses were fitting loosely, her collarbone more visible. He wanted to rail at her, tell her she was acting like a fool, but could not risk losing her.

The summer rolled by, and Genevieve came to Snape's office, pale and in black. He was taken aback. Genevieve doesn't wear black, he thought.

"Severus," she whispered. "They found my father's body." She covered her face with her hands and sobbed. "I knew, these past two months, I could feel it. I've no one now." Snape came to her and took her in his arms.

"What will become of me now?" she whispered into his chest.

Snape turned her face up to his. He looked dark into her eyes. "You will stay with me, and together we will work to defeat the Dark Lord," he said resolutely.

Genevieve laughed weakly. "As if I could ever be in his presence. He knows who I am!"

Snape smirked. "Who you are will be your cover. You will pretend to be my lover, and be by my side, and dazzle all of them with your grace and beauty. The Dark Lord loves the sight of a beautiful woman."

Genevieve broke their embrace, spreading her hands in defeat. "Severus, I'm a virgin. I've never had a lover. How exactly does one fake being a lover?"

Come into my bed and there won't have to be any pretending! Stop it! Snape swallowed and cleared his throat, not meeting her eyes. "There is no reason why we have yet to be 'engaged' in intercourse. If the Dark Lord probes your mind and finds your virginity intact, just admit we have yet to come to that point."

"Of course it would help if you could manufacture some fantasies, so he would know you do truly desire me," he added shyly.

Ah! she thought. My time has arrived. "Don't worry, Severus," she purred as she placed a hand on his right arm. "I already have plenty tucked away," she said, her voice like satin.

His black eyes snapped as she spoke. The silence was evil, painful. If she did not move her hand from him, her virginity would shortly become distant memory. Genevieve was no fool; she saw the fiery lust blazing in the Potions master's eyes. She removed her hand and walked back towards the door.

"So, I will help you?" she urged.

"Together," he promised.

***

The months proceeded with practical lessons in the Who's Who of the pure-blood world. Genevieve was still in deep mourning for the father she had lost...the father he had never been, but Snape forced her to eat. "You must be at your most delectable for our plan to work," he would whisper in her ear whenever she would face a full plate and allowed it to linger untouched for too long.

Genealogies, marriages, lovers, mistresses, whores, liars, murderers, rapists, werewolves...all were covered in Snape's practical lessons for his partner in deception.

"Now, the Malfoys," he began, "these are the people I am the closest to, since I am godfather to their son, Draco. Narcissa, nee' Black, is an extremely snobbish and spiteful woman, just like her name. Her manners are impeccable, as are yours, so she will naturally despise you on sight."

"Severus, how is it you know about the intricacies of women's minds?" Genevieve asked in fake innocence.

Severus paused as he looked at her eyes. They were so clear and innocent, but her smile...that was a different story. God, I wonder how wanton she could be!

"I have spent a great deal of time with these people, Genevieve. The relationships and entanglements to which they involve themselves are always just skimming below their superficial surfaces. We are dealing with extremely vain and petty people. Ruthless people...to be sure...but not particularly deep. It all comes down to basic human nature, my dear. Remember that, and you cannot fail."

"Lucius," he stated, getting back on track, "is a gentleman in the sense he would never in public do anything untoward or uncouth. In private, however, he is a psychotic swine. No doubt, his first thought for you will be to ravish you, even if Narcissa is standing by his side."

He stared to pace around the room as he continued. "You will appear to be overwhelmed by the affections of the senior Malfoy. Engage his flirtation, dance with him; allow him to kiss your cheek and hand, but make it ironclad that is as far as it will go. You are not open for taking on more lovers, since the one you are currently involved with is extremely jealous and highly unstable."

To this, Genevieve arched an eyebrow in disbelief.

Snape smiled wolfishly. "Believe me, Genevieve, I'm not known for being a kind man. Rather, I am most known for my detached cruelty. Most, if not all, of those present at the gala will be truly shocked that any woman would willingly come to my bed...without payment."

He searched her virgin face for blushing or embarrassment. She looked at his the face, nonplussed. Of course, he has gone to prostitutes! He finds himself so unlovable, it would be the only logical choice, she thought. Actually, the woman was relieved. He obviously had desires that needed to be met. At least he doesn't sit and wank in his solitude, and he obviously desires women. So, actually, it was the best news she could have heard on the subject.

Now it was Snape's turn to be shocked. He was prepared to shock the young woman and make her uncomfortable, just to see how she handled pressure. But, obviously, she was open-minded and focused on her purpose. To that, he felt his cock throb. Merlin, what a mixture! A virgin and dirty-minded one at that!

***

The fall passed and Genevieve learned more than she ever cared to about the truth of pure-blood families. They were all trash, as far as she cared. Most, who had completed their duties to their spouses by providing progeny, spent their days bed-hopping with whomever caught their fancy. She memorized their names and faces. Some, she already knew through her father, but she reckoned at the start too much time had passed, and her father's attitudes towards them must have been far too extreme. So, she decided at the beginning to substitute her father's view for Severus'...although to her surprise, his views were not any better.

One evening during a stroll, Genevieve broached a topic that needed badly to be discussed.

"What exactly are we telling the Dark Lord? Won't he want me killed on sight? Won't he naturally think I want revenge?"

"Very astute, Genevieve," praised Snape. "You must work very hard to focus on those bitter memories you harbor towards your father. He wanted so much for you to be accepted into the society where he only existed on the fringes. His refusal to marry your mother, keeping you illegitimate, fueled your hatred of him. Your desire is not for revenge against the Death Eaters, but revenge on him! You want to be in the inner sanctum...where he could never be."

"Ah! But, what of my mother? I loved her!" she retorted.

"Your mother refused to shake off your father and to see him for who he truly was. Your childhood was full of neglect since she had loved him more. You had an emotional split from her and saw her death as one that could not be avoided, since she had refused to stop aiding him in his escape. You can say what you said to me: 'what has been done has been done.'"

"I think I may need help in this area," she admitted.

Snape turned and placed his hands on her shoulders, unable to resist touching the creamy skin under his thumb. "That is where the use of Occlumency will come in handy," he whispered softly.