Unbreakable Vow

Only Snape was in the house. Everything seemed to have nothing to do with magic, as though it were simply the home of a Muggle family that did not care much for appearances.

"Severus..."

"Come in, Narcissa... and Bellatrix." Snape's steady voice rang out from the sitting room.

Narcissa hesitated for a moment, then sat somewhat awkwardly in the chair opposite Snape. A steaming cup of tea had already been placed on the table beside her, while another rested in Snape's hand.

She was deeply uneasy. After all, although Snape had entered Hogwarts and worked under Dumbledore after the Dark Lord's downfall, once the Dark Lord returned, rumors had spread that he had been working as a spy within Hogwarts.

The Dark Lord's regard for Snape had only perfectly confirmed that claim.

The request she wanted to make could easily be condemned as harboring disloyalty toward the Dark Lord. If this Snape truly was a Death Eater utterly loyal to the Dark Lord, then she and her family would be in danger.

Bella walked in, but there seemed to be only two places to sit in the sitting room. Her gaze shifted as she wandered about the room freely and without restraint.

"The Dark Lord told me not to say it, but..." Narcissa hesitated briefly before speaking anyway, because she had no other choice.

But Snape cut her off. "If the Dark Lord told you not to say it, then you had better not say it."

"But, Severus, Draco is only a child..." Narcissa grew anxious. At this point, she had to persuade Snape.

Snape's hollow eyes stared into nowhere. He sat like a statue, utterly motionless, the black covering him from head to toe blending him into the dim room.

Bella looked around the sitting room, but her eyes