Chapter 61. The Date. Part 1. Provocation
Severus only finished with the Grimoire by morning and, without sleeping for even a second, immediately started preparing for the upcoming meeting. After all, he planned to make this day unforgettable for a certain dark-haired lady with the surname Black.
He did not put on anything bright or ornate, choosing darker tones instead. Black trousers, high boots, a long gray cloak, and a dark sweater, winter was approaching, after all, and it was already quite cool outside.
And so, two hours later, leaving an offended Nagini at home, whom he had promised two days ago that he would also take on a date next weekend, he left the shop and headed for Gringotts.
At the same time, a rather gloomy Bella stood by the bank, constantly throwing sharp glances at the clock in the neighboring shop. Even the goblin at the entrance decided to step away for the time being, just to be safe. People passing by stared oddly at Bella in a dress with a belt and a pair of kid gloves that did not reach her elbows, and everything she wore was completely black. And if not for the lack of a hat or scarf, and the irritated expression on her face, many would have taken her for a widow who had recently lost her husband.
Ten thirty-two. What kind of man makes a woman wait?! Black thought angrily. She had come early, expecting to see Severus standing here with a bouquet of flowers, but he was not even visible on the horizon. If not for my lord's order, I would not have come here at all! I need to squeeze as much information out of him as possible. Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm down a little. He will definitely be here soon.
After twenty minutes of waiting, which dragged on like an eternity, she finally noticed him in the crowd, smiling and carrying a bouquet of roses as he walked toward her.
Clenching her trembling hands, she tried to regain her composure.
"Miss Black, you look simply charming, as always," he said, holding out the bouquet and giving her a slight nod.
"And you were not in much of a hurry." Bella Black snorted with faint irritation as she accepted it, but the next moment, to her surprise, the flowers fell apart into petals and began circling around her, releasing a soft, pleasant scent. Little by little, she started to calm down.
"I thought plain flowers would not surprise you."
At his words, she quickly smoothed her face back into an impassive mask, even though she liked the spectacle, and even her earlier annoyance that he had not arrived early began to ebb.
"And where are we going?"
"To the Muggle world," he replied with a smile, and her mood immediately started to sink again. "I am sure you already know Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley like the back of your hand, do you not? I want to surprise you."
Thinking it over, and to her own surprise, she agreed. She had been in the world of commoners very rarely, only on assignments, and even then she tried not to stay there any longer than necessary.
"Well then, Miss Black, will you come with me?" He offered his open palm with a self-satisfied smile.
"As if I have a choice?" she snapped, glaring at him with contempt. Still, she placed her thin palm in his, and they both vanished.
At the same time, the goblin at the bank entrance, watching the whole scene, spat irritably on the floor.
"Damn humans." and the next moment, after taking a few steps, he tripped on perfectly level ground and fell face-first into his own spit.
When they appeared on a long suspension bridge in the very center of London, Severus let go of her hand only to wrap an arm around her waist. In response, she hissed like a cat whose tail had been stepped on and tried to wrench herself free, but it was useless; their strength was far too unequal.
"So, tell me, how are things at work?" She had not met a man this brazen and audacious in a long time. "And is it all right that we left your friends there?"
"They followed me on their own once they heard I was going with you," Bella answered in a restrained tone, forcing herself to pull it together and ignore his hand on her. "And maybe you will tell me about yourself?"
"Of course, but there is nothing special about me," he said with a smile, winking at her. "I am still studying at Hogwarts, or more precisely, just living there. I study potion-making with Professor Slughorn, because they will not teach me anything beyond what I can find in books anyway, and I have already learned to wave a wand." He stopped on the bridge, lifted his gaze to the clear blue sky, then looked down at the river flowing beneath them, where a ship was passing under the bridge. "By the way, not a bad view, is it not?"
"Nothing special, and do not try to change the subject."
"Oh, oh, oh, you caught me. By the way, it is quite cool today. Are you not cold?"
"Again?"
"I really am worried about you. What if you catch a cold? Although maybe that would even be for the best. Then I could take care of you: wipe away your sweat, feed you with a spoon, and stay right by your side."
"I was thinking, maybe I should demonstrate the Avada Kedavra curse to you," she said, reaching for her wand.
"I am joking. What did you want to hear? How about this: one question from you, one from me, and so on in turn. What do you say?" Severus suggested, looking into the gloomy lady's eyes.
After thinking for a moment, she decided it was acceptable. Besides, she could always lie whenever she wanted.
"All right. Then I go first."
"Please."
"How did you become like this?"
"Thanks to a certain potion. The recipe, sorry, I will not tell. It is my teacher's secret, and I doubt anyone would be willing to experience pain like being boiled from the inside. The sensations are simply indescribable." At his words, Bella shuddered. "I would not wish that happiness on anyone."
"I see."
"So, since we are supposedly on a date, no negative emotions," he murmured, pulling her closer and blowing into her ear. She squeaked, jabbed him in the side with her elbow, and then glared up at him, menacing. A blush burned on her cheeks, clearly visible against her pale face. "Now my question." The smile vanished, replaced by a gloomy seriousness that made Bella swallow. "What cuisine do you like?"
".what?" At his question, Black froze for a few seconds. "Cuisine?" She had expected anything, even a question about her lord, but not this. "Cuisine?"
"Yes. There are quite a few restaurants in London, and I do not want to make a mistake, after all, this is our first date."
"And you think there will be another one?"
"Of course. Did you really think I would tell you everything about myself at the very first meeting?" he asked, smiling brightly. "And you still have not answered my question."
"Italian," she said, clicking her tongue in displeasure as she turned away.
"Unexpected. I thought you were not a fan of Muggle food."
"That is none of your business. Now it is my turn," she snapped, looking at him with irritation. "Who is your teacher?"
"Ooh. I thought you would lead up to that gradually, but all right, I will answer. His name is Amon Ihiros, a powerful wizard and a master swordsman."
Bella frowned again. She had never heard that name, and it could mean either that he was a hermit who had lived somewhere in the wilderness, not surprising for wizards, or that he had come from another country, which also could not be ruled out.
"Now it is my turn. what should I ask? Hmm. I know. How did you sink to such a life?"
"What do you mean?"
"Start serving Voldemort?"
She did not like the way she had phrased it, but she decided to stay silent for now.
"He is handsome." A lich's face flashed through Severus's mind: completely white, without a nose or hair.
"Strange tastes you have, but all right, go on."
"His cruelty and ruthlessness."
"More accurate to say madness, but continue." Noticing the sidelong look she gave him, he nodded with a smile, and she returned to that dreamy, adoring expression.
"His strength."
"So, there is the first point."
"Maybe you should stop interrupting me already?" she demanded, irritation sharpening her voice. "Or did you think you could ever compare with him?" she added with a mocking smile. In the next moment, she was pressed against the guard booth at the beginning of the bridge. "You are angry that he is better than you."
"No, I just find it funny that you compare that creature to me." Severus knocked the dagger from her hand with ease, then looked into her eyes, which were overflowing with fury, wearing a mocking smile. "A madman who split his soul into pieces and dreams of imaginary immortality while slowly going insane. He disfigured his appearance, lied to his supporters about the purity of his blood, and binds them to himself with artifacts, buying their loyalty with lies and fear. What should I envy?" He added calmly, "Tell me, where am I wrong? And I have not even mentioned that he personally killed his parents and framed his only relative, which is why he was sent to Azkaban. I am not even talking about his skill at pleasing elderly ladies with his tongue. Tom has long ceased to be human. He is a greedy monster who feels nothing, and even if you are killed right in front of his eyes, he will not care. No, perhaps he will be a little sad, having lost such a valuable pawn from the rich, pure-blood Black family, because he will no longer be able to put his hands in your vault. I doubt Walburga will be very happy to share Galleons from the family vault. Well, what do you say? Point out at least one moment where I was wrong?"
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