Quae modo pugnarunt, iungunt sua rostra columbae.
OVID –
Ars Amatoria*
“And
that’s the next thing we’re going to practise, dear. You’re an appallingly bad
liar!”
“Lying is
for cowards, isn’t it?”
She
sniggered. “Only if you’re a fat-headed Gryffindor. The rest of us are smarter
than that. Honestly, there are loads of things you’ve got to learn yet, Severus
Snape. For a start: Cowardice isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s much to be
preferred to foolhardiness, for an instance. And there will come many
situations when you don’t want to let show what’s really going on in your head.
Take your feud with my horrible cousin, for example. You’d have so much more
spare time, if you didn’t always blurt out that you’ve cursed him and spend
your evenings in detentions.”
“He’d
give me away anyway, and I don’t want to give him the satisfaction of seeing me
degrade myself and lie!”
“I
appreciate your self-respect, but that attitude won’t take you anywhere, trust
me. Listen closely, Severus, I believe I can teach you some very handy
lessons.” She winked at him. “Number One – know your enemy. In the case of my
cousin, you could already know some helpful things like –”
“Like him
being a total arsehole?”
“So much
is obvious, isn’t it. But please, mind your language, at least when you’re
talking to me. Anyhow, he is a Gryffindor, and maybe you haven’t been long
enough in this school yet to understand, but those folks have something like a
code of honour. Sirius is an awful person, but one thing he’s not – a
traitor. It disagrees with his self-respect. He wouldn’t incriminate
you. So – let us say old Slughorn is the one to interview you on the case –
what’d you do?”
He
shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“For a start
you have to appear genuine, no matter who’s asking you. No guilt written all
over your face, no pride, no contentment. You must look perfectly unconcerned,
and of course, you have no idea what they’re talking about until they
tell you what’s happened. Unless it’s absolutely obvious. Mind you, it’s
not believable when you of all persons are informed that Sirius was hit by a
curse and you appear like you were not gleeful. It’s all about the right
measure. Got me so far?”
“Yes –”
She
doubted that he fully comprehended; it was written all over his face, but she
carried on regardless, “Of course, this is all very obvious; you automatically
do the same when you lie to your parents –”
“I never
do.”
She
hesitated and frowned. “I beg your pardon? Omnis homo mendax,* Severus! What are you, some sort of
saint?!”
“My
mother… She…” He bit his lip and looked on his hands, before raising his head
again and adding in a more steady tone, “As for my father – oh well. I’ve
preferred defiance so far, you see?”
“Defiance?
Why? Because he’s a Muggle?”
“Rather
because he is a complete jerk – excuse the term, but he really is. He doesn’t deserve
the effort.”
“I see…
Well, so it means you’ve got to start from scratch, that’s all.”
“I’m
sorry, but – do I really have to – well – learn this?”
She
smiled slyly. “Mark my words, dear, but it can only be advantageous when it’s your
choice whether you tell someone the truth or not.”
“True,” a
well-known voice said and Narcissa was quite proud that she didn’t give a
start. When she looked up, she appeared as calm as ever, seeing Lucius Malfoy
stand before them, casually leaning against a shelf. “Listen to her, Severus.”
She
didn’t want to be backed up by Lucius Malfoy of all persons, not him, but what
could she do? “Eavesdropping, are you?”
“That’s a
harsh accusation. Actually, I happened to be searching for Severus here. And
when I saw you and heard that you’re trying to teach him how to lie, and
actually backing your lecture on the topic up with scripture quotes, it was
just too interesting.”
“Was it,”
she said tersely, every fibre of her body willing him to leave. Didn’t she see
enough of him already! She couldn’t stop him from attending the Potions Club
meetings, but why she ought to endure him in her free time was beyond her.
“It was.
I wonder what you mean by it though –”
“Is there
anything I can do for you?” Severus asked and got up, but Narcissa pulled him
back. She didn’t look at him though, but glared at Lucius.
“You’re
not his servant, Severus!”
“Uh – I
am, in fact –”
Lucius
clearly tried to look as nice as he could, still he couldn’t help but show his
usual sneer. “You are not my servant, Severus, but my aide –”
“Boils
down to the same thing!” Narcissa intensified her scowl. He must
eventually understand that he wasn’t wanted here, right?!
He wasn’t
impressed, sadly, simply continuing in that habitually smug manner of his, “And
not only my aide, but my friend.”
“You’ve
got a strange concept of friendship!”
“Look
who’s talking!”
“Do you
chase your other friends down to the Quidditch Pitch in pouring rain, too? Only
to clip some twigs on your broomstick?!”
“But
that’s my job,” Severus muttered.
“Yes, and
do you think it entirely sensible to be bossed around only because of Quidditch?”
“He can
leave if he wishes, but it appears he doesn’t want to. Unlike you, I
don’t try to control him and everything else around me.”
“I do no
such thing!”
Severus
had got to his feet once more. “Please, Narcissa –”
“Sit
down, Severus!”
He
exchanged some looks with his great friend, on his part helpless, on
Malfoy’s part – well – somehow indecipherable. “Speaking of bossing around,
Miss Black! Ts ts ts… However, Severus, I was looking for you to ask you if you
would be so kind and grease my leather gloves before the next training.”
“Certainly!”
“Your
homework is more important than greasing his gloves, Severus!”
“And I
thought you had already finished, seeing that you were about to give him a
lesson on the extracurricular subject of deception. I know you think nothing of
Quidditch, so to you everything must be more important. But she is a
genius, Severus. I think you do well to obey her –”
“He
needn’t obey me! He can do as he pleases!”
“Can he
really? He’s got up two times already and you’ve urged him not to, and he has obeyed.”
He shot her a suggestive smile, and turned back to patronise the kid, “Which
was very good of you, Severus, don’t worry.”
One
side-glance at the boy sufficed to see how unhappy he was with the situation.
She inwardly cursed Malfoy for bringing him into such a predicament, but that
was just like him, wasn’t it, he simply enjoyed giving others a hard time! But
she wouldn’t play his game, even if that meant that he got his will. She shut
the book before her with a loud clap, gave Severus a gentle smile and
said, “I think we’re through anyway, dear. Run along, I know how you guys like
Quidditch.”
“Is that
really all right by you?”
“Absolutely,”
she said and smiled yet more sweetly, only to glare at Malfoy in the next
second. “It’s fine. See you tomorrow, same time?”
She had
hoped that Lucius would vanish with him, but she was disappointed bitterly. He
left his comfortable position by the shelf and strolled over to her table,
glancing at the books before her.
“You are
one busy bee, aren’t you?”
“Can I
help you with anything?” She was pleased with herself for giving her voice just
the right amount of spin.
“You
could, yes…”
He looked
straight into her eyes, penetratingly really, but she wouldn’t allow him to
make her look away first. “And…? What would that be?”
He didn’t
answer and he didn’t turn his gaze away, neither did she. Despite herself, she
noticed the remarkable colour of his eyes; she had noticed it before, of
course, it was impossible to miss. Almost like silver, like, two lunar orbs, like
a day in November shortly before the sun would come out – but never before she
had seen his eyes from so close, and for so long. Before she got entirely
mesmerised, she arched a brow, inviting him to speak.
“Well…
For a start I’d be truly interested in the subject you were just about to teach
our mutual friend.”
She gave
a mocking laugh. “I believe you’re already a proficient expert.”
He raised
his brows. “What makes you say that?”
“Oh
please! Do you really mean to tell me that you cannot lie?”
“I’m not
a novice like good Severus, admittedly. But I don’t think I’m as good as you.”
“Sounds
like a compliment, feels like a slap.” She gave a fake smile. “Well done,
Malfoy. I think that is something I could learn from you.”
“Actually,
I’m just copying you.”
“Aww,
thanks, I feel so flattered.”
“You can.
Imitation is the highest level of admiration.”
“You
truly are a gift to human kind, aren’t you?”
“See?
That’s what I mean. On the surface, you are all calmness and composure, with a
seeming glint of politeness here and there, occasionally. But underneath, you
are frothing with anger, and still you are very apt in concealing it.”
“But I
couldn’t fool you, eh?” If she forced herself to smile any more like
this, her face would become stuck, and for the rest of her life, she’d roam the
world looking like a total idiot!
“You look
nice when you’re smiling.”
For a
second, she thought he was taunting her, but either he was an excellent
liar, or he was serious, and both unsettled her. “Oh, you should see how nice I
look if I’m smiling for real, Malfoy!”
He turned
his eyes to the floor. “What would it take me to make you smile for real?”
“Leave?”
she suggested dryly, seeing him smirk.
“Why am I
bothering you so much?”
“Why do
you bother me at all?”
“I would
like to know you better.”
She burst
out laughing. “I bet you would. But let me tell you a secret – I’m every bit as
nasty as people say I am. There’s nothing else to discover.”
“I don’t
believe you.”
“I
thought I was such a good liar?”
“You do
put on a brilliant show, but I know you better.”
She
snorted. “What would I have to do to make you leave, Malfoy?”
“Go out
with me.”
She shook
her head in exasperation. “Oh, for heaven’s sake, what do you take me for?!”
He looked
very earnest. “I think you are a very, very pretty, and even more intelligent
girl –”
“If you
truly believed that I was intelligent, how could you seriously assume
that I’d be so silly as to fall for this rubbish?”
“Will you
go out with me?”
“No!” He
gave her a long, intense look, but this time she did look away. She packed her
books into her bag, rolled up some parchments and put them away too. “Anything
else? Good, because I will leave now!”
She got
up, shouldered her bag and marched away without looking back. He was right. She
was fuming with rage. That guy had a nerve! Asking her out! Ph! And then, she
let herself be chased away, from her very own territory! The library was her
space! He never went into the library, he’d rather send Severus to get him the
books he needed! She stayed away from the Quidditch Pitch, he could have
it, as long as he didn’t go into the library and –
She
stopped abruptly. What was she thinking there?! Her space, his
territory, for goodness’ sake! She prided herself to be a thoroughly rational,
sensible person, and ten minutes conversation with this idiot drove her utterly
mad?! She took a deep breath, counted up to ten, checked herself and went on,
calmer, and as serenely as she could. Still, such insolence! Asking her out! Her!
She couldn’t possibly feel more insulted. Ranking her with those insipid little
sluts he else went out with! And if he was only going out with them, she would
not bother, but all this guy wanted from a girl was sex and another
trophy, and she would not lower herself like that, never!
On her
way to the dungeons, she passed her sister, who was holding hands in broad
daylight with the Hufflepuff Prefect, Ted Something. Oh, Andy! Couldn’t she at
least be careful?! Anyone could see them! That concern wasn’t merely rooted in
Narcissa’s sense of decency and her abhorrence of the public display of
caresses, but the deplorable fact that Ted Something was Muggleborn. He was
nice, according to Andromeda, that wasn’t the point, but their parents would
make such a fuss if they ever got wind of this! And did she really, really
have to pick a Hufflepuff? A House praised for its utter mediocrity?!
She
walked by and uttered under her breath, “Pull yourself together, Andy! Frankly,
you need to get a grip!”
Andromeda
gave a giggle and stepped a bit closer to her companion. “Why don’t you
just get a life, Cissy?!”
* Quae modo... Pigeons that are fighting now, will be billing
tomorrow.
* Omnis... All men are liars. (Psalm 116, 11)
*****
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