"Father," Narcissa suddenly spoke. "Father, did you return this time because of something special?"
Her blue eyes turned toward Snape, and that gaze made him feel a twinge of unease. Snape grew secretly alert, this woman was the true core of the Malfoy family; she had never been an easy one to deceive.
"A task from the Dark Lord," he replied vaguely, hoping the answer was ambiguous enough yet carried sufficient weight to intimidate. He noticed Lucius immediately straightened in his seat, a flicker of doubt flashing in his eyes.
Narcissa once again took Lucius's hand and exchanged a glance with him.
"Of course, Father," she said respectfully. "Is there anything we can do to serve him?"
"I need to check on the object the Dark Lord entrusted to our family," Snape said cautiously, already prepared to act. "I intend to take it secretly to Hogwarts."
Lucius's brow furrowed slightly, but Narcissa's expression remained as calm as still water.
"Of course," Narcissa said, standing up. "I'll fetch it for you right away."
A strange feeling rose in Snape's chest, something felt off. But he couldn't see where his act had gone wrong; he had mimicked Abraxas's mannerisms and tone flawlessly. Unless,
Narcissa was already walking toward the study door; in another second, her hand would touch the doorknob.
Something about that movement triggered Snape's instincts. He couldn't explain why, but he suddenly realized he had made a mistake.
Just as Narcissa's fingertips were about to brush the doorknob, Snape swiftly drew his wand, two silent Full Body-Bind Curses shot toward Narcissa and Lucius.
Narcissa froze instantly, and Lucius sprang up from his chair with a startled jerk, his face full of shock.
Before Narcissa's stiff body could hit the floor, Snape quickly moved to catch her, lowering her gently to the carpet, and as Lucius was about to fall, he used a Levitation Charm to keep him suspended midair.
Only Narcissa's eyes still moved, gazing at Snape calmly.
"Where did I go wrong?" Snape asked her, then realized she couldn't answer. "Oh, right, you can't speak right now."
He then cast Muffliato on the doors, windows, and walls of the study, ensuring that no portrait or person could overhear them. Next, he searched their robes, retrieved their wands, and slipped them into his own pocket.
"Next, I'll release you from the Body-Bind," Snape said coldly. "But if you want to gamble with your own life, or each other's, I don't mind sending you both to meet Merlin. Do you understand?"
He magically moved Narcissa beside Lucius, looked into their eyes, and said, "If you understand, move your eyes up and down."
Lucius obeyed immediately; Narcissa hesitated for a moment, then followed suit.
"Good." Snape walked to the door and lifted the curse from them.
Two flashes of red light later, their bodies regained freedom. Narcissa sat up, trying to maintain her composure, while Lucius looked frightened.
"Who are you?" Lucius's voice trembled slightly.
"I'm your beloved father, Lucius," Snape said kindly, pointing his wand at them. "Sit."
The two of them obediently sat back down without a single unnecessary motion.
With a wave of Snape's wand, several ropes shot out of thin air and bound them tightly to their chairs. The sight was eerie, Abraxas Malfoy tying up his own son and daughter-in-law in his study.
"Now," Snape pulled over a chair and sat across from them, smiling as he stared, "tell me, Narcissa, how did you discover my flaw?"
Narcissa hesitated for a moment, then decided to tell the truth. "Abraxas Malfoy was not a Death Eater."
Snape's pupils contracted slightly. Only now did he realize his mistake, he had assumed that since Lucius was a Death Eater, it would be natural for his father to be one as well.
But Narcissa was right. For an old pure-blood family like the Malfoys, keeping some members outside the Dark Lord's circle was a safer strategy. That way, even if Lucius faced trial, Abraxas could still operate on his behalf from the outside.
"Clever," Snape murmured, unable to hide a note of admiration for her insight.
Unexpectedly, Narcissa then turned to Lucius and asked, "The object the Dark Lord entrusted you with, what exactly is it?"
"I..." Lucius looked confused and hesitant. "I'm not sure if I should-"
"Lucius," Narcissa's voice turned sharp. "Our lives are at stake. Answer the question."
Lucius swallowed and stammered, "It seems to be a notebook."
"What exactly?" Narcissa pressed. "Is it important?"
"The Dark Lord only told me it was enchanted with intricate magic," Lucius said, looking uncertain. "He told me to give it to a Hogwarts student when ordered. It supposedly can open the Chamber of Secrets. It didn't seem very important..."
"Sir," Narcissa turned toward Snape. "You went through all this trouble to come here, for that notebook, correct?"
"Of course," Snape nodded. "That's exactly why I'm here."
"We can give it to you," Narcissa said, her tone calm again, even carrying a hint of negotiation. "We can even pay you handsomely, just don't harm us."
"But that thing belongs to the Dark Lord," Lucius protested. "We can't-"
"Silence, Lucius," Narcissa snapped, then turned back to Snape. "Sir, I assume you used Polyjuice Potion to disguise yourself as our father, didn't you?"
Snape nodded in acknowledgment.
"Then I suppose," Narcissa continued, her tone becoming ever steadier, "that since you went to such lengths to come here, that notebook must be far more important than Lucius imagined."
"In that case, letting us live and continue as if nothing happened would undoubtedly be your best choice," she paused, "for if anything happened to us, the Dark Lord would surely come to check on the notebook himself. You wouldn't want that, would you?"
Snape had to admit, her reasoning was flawless.
"The Malfoy family truly couldn't function without you, Narcissa," he said. "I admit keeping you alive benefits me. However-" he glanced at Lucius's timid expression and shook his head, "help me out here, how can I believe you won't tell the Dark Lord afterward?"
"Obliviate is one option..." Narcissa murmured. "But the Dark Lord is exceptionally skilled in Legilimency. If he noticed Lucius acting dazed, he might grow suspicious and forcibly read his memories..."
She fell silent, clearly thinking hard about how to save her husband and herself.
Snape, in truth, had no intention of killing them. If worst came to worst, he thought, an Obliviate would still be better than nothing.
Then suddenly, he realized, he didn't have to treat Narcissa as an enemy at all. She had never been a devoted servant of the Dark Lord.
If she understood how crucial the diary truly was, her intelligence alone would keep her from telling the Dark Lord it was gone; otherwise, the Malfoy family would face annihilation. Of course, he wouldn't mention that the Dark Lord had multiple Horcruxes, whether she guessed that or not would be up to her.
"Do you know Occlumency?" Snape asked.
"We both do," Narcissa replied, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. "And we're quite skilled. It's... well... an essential skill when working under the Dark Lord."
"Then I can spare your lives," Snape said, nodding, "but I need to speak with you alone." He looked at Narcissa. "If I send your husband to fetch the notebook, can you ensure you'll convince him to keep this quiet afterward?"
"Narcissa," Lucius looked worried. "I don't think-"
"Yes," Narcissa said firmly, then turned to her husband. "Lucius, do as he says. Go fetch the notebook, and tell no one. Our lives depend on your cooperation."
Lucius seemed to want to object, but under Narcissa's steady gaze, he finally nodded.
"Good," Snape said. "That's what I wanted to hear. If you care about your wife's life, Mr. Malfoy, do nothing unnecessary."
After Snape released the ropes binding him, Lucius took several deep breaths, looked at Narcissa, who gave him a firm nod.
"Don't tell anyone," she repeated.
Lucius left the study, closing the door gently behind him.
Now, only Snape and the bound Narcissa remained.
"Narcissa," Snape said softly, "you've probably guessed who I am, haven't you?"
"I don't know," Narcissa shook her head. "And I don't want to."
"I've always thought you were cleverer than the entire Malfoy family combined," Snape said. "Now, say my name."
Narcissa was silent for a moment, sighed lightly, and said, "It could only be you, Severus. Long time no see."
"Indeed." Snape's lips curved slightly. "Long time no see, Narcissa. I believe dealing with intelligent people is always a pleasure."
"I completely agree," Narcissa said. "We've always been friends. Don't worry, Lucius and I won't breathe a word of tonight to anyone."
"Of course, of course, we've always been friends," Snape said, locking eyes with her. "But I need to add one more layer of insurance.
"My friend, I'm going to tell you something terrible, the notebook is the Dark Lord's Horcrux. Do you know what a Horcrux is?"
Narcissa's eyes widened in horror. It was the first time that night Snape had seen her react so strongly.
After a long moment, she nodded. "I know what it is. So what Lucius said was true after all."
"What did Lucius say?" Snape asked curiously.
"The Dark Lord once told Lucius that his goal was to conquer death," Narcissa replied in a low, trembling voice. "He has gone farther down the path of immortality than anyone else..."
"The names of the Dark Lord and his Death Eaters certainly fit that goal," Snape said. "Then you understand how important that notebook is, and what would happen if he learned you'd lost it?"
"We'd face the Dark Lord's harshest punishment," Narcissa said softly. "Severus, I know what to do." She hesitated before adding, "If there's ever any critical information about the Dark Lord, I'll find a way to get it to you."
"Why?" Snape asked, surprised by the offer.
"Since you've come this far," Narcissa said, meeting his gaze with complex emotion, "then you must be striving to stop the Dark Lord from achieving his dream of immortality.
"And..." her voice dropped lower, "I don't want a capricious man to live forever. I don't want my children growing up under his rule."
Snape studied her, judging her sincerity.
Narcissa's eyes didn't waver.
"Whether it's the Minister for Magic or the so-called 'Greatest Wizard,' they all change over time," she said. "But the Malfoy family has always remained the Malfoy family. The Dark Lord's immortality would destroy that order."
"Keep an eye on your husband," Snape said at last. "Lucius isn't nearly as clever as you."
"Alright," Narcissa said, then asked suddenly, "We're still friends, aren't we?"
"Why not?" Snape replied. "My friend."
A faintly mischievous smile curved Narcissa's lips. "Do you remember the Sorting Hat's song in your first year? The one it sang most often?"
Before Snape could answer, she looked into his eyes and softly sang:
"Or perhaps in Slytherin,
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means,
To achieve their ends..."
When she finished, she said, "You are a true Slytherin, Severus."
"Nicely sung," Snape said, clapping his hands lightly. "And thank you for the compliment."
Just then, a gentle knock sounded on the door.
The study door opened, and Lucius walked in, holding a small black-covered notebook.
He closed the door, looked at Narcissa worriedly, and, seeing she was unharmed, breathed a sigh of relief. Carefully, he handed the notebook to Snape and sat back down obediently.
After re-binding Lucius to his chair, Snape began to inspect the notebook to ensure it wasn't a product of the Copying Charm.
The faded date on the cover showed it was thirty-five years old. Snape carefully opened it and saw a name written in blurred ink on the first page: T.M. Riddle.
Inside, page after page was completely blank, without a trace of writing.
Snape picked up a quill from the desk, dipped it into the inkpot, and approached Narcissa, gesturing for her to watch.
"My name is Jerry Spike," he wrote in the diary.
Under his and Narcissa's gaze, the ink shimmered brightly for a second, then seemed to be absorbed by the paper, vanishing without a shadow.
Then, suddenly, new words appeared on the page, written in the same ink he had used:
"Hello, Jerry Spike. My name is Tom Riddle. How did you find my diary?"