A Tale Old as Time

Like a bird trapped in a cage. This was the only analogy her weary mentality could muster; the rest of her minds strength was bent on reminding her she was not cold. The only way to light the fire aside from the traditional way (which is almost unheard of in most wizarding families) was with magic but her uncle had on the first day of holidays taken her wand, with no intention of returning it until September the first. Not that it mattered. Even if she used her wand to ignite the fire she would be expelled from Hogwarts for disobeying the law of underage wizardry. So, there she was, cold and submerged in obscurity, perched near the window sill in her room, watching the stars emerge in the darkening sky.

In less than a fortnight she would be back at Hogwarts and out of this caged existence. But even Hogwarts was a far cry from freedom. Her house mates taunted and teased her relentlessly, they easily saw through her. They knew she was not one of them, that she was only there because her family demanded it. Students in the other houses shunned her because she was a Slytherin and thus by association labeled as evil. Of course being related to a large number of dark wizards didn't make her anymore acceptable. She had long since become accustomed with the idea that she was alone and friendless; that she would spend her nights at school sleeping on a common room couch instead of in her four poster. Any time spent in her dormitory would cause endless taunting and practical jokes to be played on her. The isolation from others gave her more time for her studies which of course helped her earn high marks in a majority of her subjects and gave her Uncle and Aunt less of a reason to punish her. The undisturbed time also allowed her to secretly work on her drawings. Something she relished dearly and at the moment missed sincerely.

She was watching the dark trees outside her window swaying and her feeling of imprisonment escalated. She wanted to feel the wayward breeze and to vent the stale odor that clung to every centimeter of Ephraim Manor. Her room was more like a crypt rather than a bed room; the floor was like the rest of the Manor made of dark granite which all warmth escaped, the walls of her room were bare and in the early hours of the morning always seemed to close in around her. One of the few furnishings was her bed with a frame of black iron that looked as cruel as it felt to sleep on.

With a quick glance behind her to the rest of the empty room and a moment of strained listening she moved her hands to open the window. Eager as she was to feel fresh air she was petrified by the thought of what would happen if she were caught. Her moment of feared faded and she pushed the window open with one short thrust. The air was heavy with moisture form the nearby marsh but her breathing mimicked that of someone who had just been released from suffocation. Leaning farther out the window her eyes caught sight of the ground three stories below. 'I want to fly away.' Her psyche was screaming obscenities but her brain was not swift enough to act on them. In the midst of her silent ranting the familiar sound of heavy foot steps nearing her door broke through her unspoken screaming. She clamored to bring the window back to a close.

The window clinked shut just as the door handle turned and was rather roughly forced open. Immediately turning to face the intruder tears began to well up and blur her vision. But even without looking at who was standing in the doorway casting a tall threatening shadow on the stone floor she knew it was her Uncle. Even before he had crossed the room to her she had crumpled to her knees and was crouching along the wall under the window. Grabbing her wrist and dragging her partially across the room and to her feet he gave her one quick slap across the cheek.

"I have been yelling for you for the past five minutes! I had expected better obedience from you but then again it is rather difficult to HEAR when your head is hanging out of a window!" His voice was firm and commanding as usual and she clenched her jaw in an odd attempt to hold back any tears or words she was tempted to shed. He had probably never called for her but he was still going to punish her for this supposed noncompliance. A small amount of self hate rose with in her for not escaping out the window when the opportunity had arisen.

"Forgive me, Sir." Her voice made every effort to sound as sorry as she knew he wanted her to be.

"If it happens again you will find yourself sleeping in the cellar where they are no windows to distract you!" It was by no means an empty threat; he considered her disobedience to be a sign of rebellion and disloyalty which was in his view the most highly offensive acts committable. When he had discovered a book she used to draw in he had her locked in the water closet for three days but not before he made her witness the burning of her sketches. "Is that clear Tabitha?"

"Yes Sir."

"Now, get dressed the guests have all arrived. Including your mothers family, who are very eager to see you again." He muttered something under his breath that to Tabitha sounded very much like 'I can't imagine why' before he continued. "You will be seated in the dinning room tonight with the adults and you will be there within five minutes or you will find me in a MUCH fouler mood than you have already made me!"

"Yes, Uncle Ethan." She replied barely audible as the door slammed shut behind him and she again turned to the window. Even as her mind drifted to thoughts of escape her body was already slipping her olive colored dress robes over her head.

She descended the grand staircase with the feeling of impending dread looming about her like a dense fog or like the heavy mists that rose around the decaying trees in the marsh just beyond the front garden. The beginnings of conversation could be heard drifting up from the main dinning hall. It filled her with even more anxiety knowing tonight as her Uncle had informed her she would dine with the elders. Before, during these parties thrown by other pure blood families she had dined with the children who were always more enjoyable dinner company because they never scrutinized her like adult relations did. Now it was common among pure blood wizarding families to through large fetes and had been so for hundreds of years but now in the second reign of the Dark Lord these parties took on new meaning. They were a way for Dark Wizards and Death Eaters to congregate without raising the suspicions of the Ministry and the Aurors.

As she neared the dining hall three young figures scampered to meet her. "Tabitha will you come play cards with us!?" A young boy energetically asked.

"I'm so sorry Egan I-." She was cut off by one of the beautiful blonde little girls.

"Oh please Tabby-tha!"

"Yes please Tabby-tha, it's more fun when you play." The little blonde's twin piped in. Tabitha was far from being immune to their charms and if given the option she would have gladly chosen to play cards with them rather than eat with the others. Egan slightly tugged on her robe with his bottom lip hanging out and his eyebrows drooping.

"Please Tabitha." Even at the age of ten he was the most persuasive person she knew. He was the one member of her family that she honestly loved and enjoyed spending time with but now couldn't be one of those times.

"I can't Egan, I'm sorry. But you have Larissa and Larina to play with, maybe later I can-." Just then her Uncles voice boomed in from the dinning hall.

"Tabitha! We are waiting for you!" His shouts reverberated through the Manor and Tabitha grimaced as the sound bounced off the walls and to her ears. "Lucretia, take the children into the drawing room." His voice was always much calmer as he spoke to his own daughter. Before entering the dinning room Tabitha glanced behind her as the children were being lead away. Lucretia gave her an evil and jealous glare before she disappeared with the other children. Obviously her father thought thirteen years of age not quite old enough to join the adults for tonight's dinner. 'Lucky her.' Tabitha thought as she crossed the threshold into the dinning hall.

The long dinning table was surrounded with people who on her entrance had halted all conversation and turned to peer at her. She hated the dinning hall even when it was empty of guests. Even though the hall its self was never truly empty. On the far wall, set between two tall stained glass windows depicting family stories of glory was a portrait of Ephraim Rosier, her great grandfather. His portrait was like all wizarding paintings, it moved and talked but unlike most of the paintings at Hogwarts, Ephraim Rosier never had anything good to say. His comments were usually crude; there wasn't a female in the Manor who hadn't been subject to one of his vulgar remarks. Most commonly though he aimed insults and threats at the house elves who upon hearing comments like 'in my day I would break the legs off any mangy little elf vermin who didn't show proper respect for their masters!' would quickly scamper out of the room or hide under the table. Tabitha like many of the house elves had always tried to avoid this room and her great grandfather's portrait. It was the constant reminder of who she was and just who she was related to.

All around the table were the familiar faces of people she called aunt, uncle and cousin. Uncle Ethan was at the far head of the table under the portrait of his grandfather, he motioned for her to take a seat directly to his right. On her way to her designated chair she pasted one unknown man and her two uncles from her mother's family, Rabastan and Rodolphus Lestrange. Her assigned seat was next to her aunt by marriage and god mother, Bellatrix Lestrange. She sat down feeling more self conscious than she thought possible. Even worse was the feeling that she knew they were all still intently looking at her and had most likely seen the pinkish splash across her cheek which still stung from her Uncle's assault. Keeping her head down she refused to look at the guests sitting opposite her at the table. Suddenly her chin was grasped by a frail looking cold hand and she was turned to meet the gaze of her Aunt Bellatrix.

"She looks more like her mother I think." Bellatrix's voice was as cold as her hands and her face that Tabitha knew was once very beautiful was now sunken and hallow from her years of imprisonment in Azkaban. The hand on her chin thrust her head out over the table just a little and Bellatrix turned to her husband and asked. "She looks more like Raphaela, don't you agree Rodolphus?" Uncle Rodolphus was the kind of man who would never disagree with his wife. He too looked thin and hallow from his many years in the wizard prison but despite his weary appearance still portrayed the classic blue eyes and sandy hair of the Lestrange family. It wasn't Uncle Rodolphus who responded but Tabitha's Uncle Rabastan who had also spent a good portion of his life under the influence of the Dementors. But unlike his brother Rabastan was endowed with a kind of unmatchable fever and wit.

"Yes, she does look very much like Raphaela. But despite being a Rosier I think she looks a good deal the way you used to Bellatrix." This observation was far from untrue. Tabitha did hold many of the physical characteristics as Bellatrix, in her younger pre Azkaban days. Tabitha had the same long dark shiny hair Bellatrix once possessed and her eyes too where heavily lidded and lashed but her irises were clearly the renowned Lestrange blue.

"Yes well that is what good pure blood breeding will give you." Bellatrix smiled and replied to her brother-in-law.

"Indeed Bella. Hear hear for good breeding in the best of wizarding families!" Tabitha raised her stare to the man sitting down and opposite her at the table who had his glass raised in a toast. It was Lucius Malfoy and he was seated in-between his wife Narcissa and their son Draco who was in Tabitha's same year and house at Hogwarts. Tabitha had never much minded Draco even if he did act a pompous ass while they were away at school. He had never personally treated her poorly or partook in the teasing of her like most other Slytherins did but she wasn't quick to put such taunting past him. Tabitha also knew something about Draco that few others did, he had two little twin sisters that he absolutely adored. Larissa and Larina Malfoy were as their father always claimed 'the pinnacle of good pure blood breeding.' They where two truly gorgeous little six year old girls; both were endowed with long soft blonde hair (a true Malfoy trait) and astonishing large pale grey eyes. It was near impossible to resist them or their charm and the girls seemed to know this power they possessed over their parents, brother and other family members.

Tabitha's gaze had wondered off Draco and to the man sitting on his right side. It was her Potions Professor, Severus Snape. She had never seen Professor Snape outside of school before and his presence was something of a mystery. His expression was one Tabitha could relate to, he clearly looked like he was not enjoying himself in the least. But then again she could not remember a time where he looked like he was in anything that could be described as a good mood. Their gazes met and she was a little more than shocked when he did not quickly turn away. Oddly she did not feel as exposed and scrutinized when he looked at her as she did when most others let their eyes fall on her. Snape was not one of her most favorite teachers but nor was he with out his merits when it came to teaching Potions. Most students found him unbearably strict, mean and unfair (not the Slytherins of course) but Tabitha never had a problem with his classes or teaching methods. She believed this was accredited to having grown up in Uncle Ethan's house-hold who was every bit as strict as Snape.

He was also her Head of House at school and in that regard she was some what spiteful. Of course it was common knowledge in Slytherin House that he was a Death Eater and just before summer holiday began he vouched for Lucius Malfoy concerning the incident in the Department of Mysteries, which allowed him to go free. Even though she suspected he was under heavy watch by Aurors. It had hardly fazed her that he was a Death Eater and was probably feeding information to the Dark Lord about the on goings at Hogwarts. She had lived among Dark Wizards all her life, her own father had been a Death Eater, who died instead of surrendering to the Aurors and here at the table her own God Parents, who went to Azkaban rather than renounce the Dark Lord. So the fact that her Professor was a Death Eater as well barely gave rise to a second thought.

It was that for the past five years she had been his pupil and under his care and he never seemed to notice or acknowledge her existence. More than once she knew he saw her spending her nights in the common room, sleeping on a couch and every time he pretended not to notice. She had since her first year received outstanding grades in all her classes and yet this achievement goes unnoticed to him for if he had noticed maybe he would have recommended her to be a Prefect. She had not eaten a single meal in the Great Hall at Hogwarts since her first year because her fellow students were always so cruel to her and yet had he ever noticed her absence? Did he ever wonder why she had been caught so many times by Filch or Mrs. Norris on late night outings to the kitchens? As far as she was concerned he most likely didn't even remember her name. That is probably why she was so surprised when he attempted to engage in a conversation with her soon after the house elves had placed the first course of dinner on the table.

"Miss Rosier I would like to congratulate you on your excellent O.W.L scores." He said as he arbitrarily stirred the crab bisque in front of him. First she was astonished that he even spoke and was even more taken aback when she realized she was the one he was speaking to.

"Thank you, Professor." Her voice was rather meek as she too toyed futilely with the chilled soup and Severus couldn't help but see the rather stunned look on her face when he talked to her. He realized that he had never paid her much attention before and passed her off as just another ordinary student, well she was hardly ordinary. Perhaps he had been too quick to judge her and think that she would be no different than her parents and relatives. Again and again she proved his assumptions wrong, she was nothing like the family to which she belonged nothing like the stereotype he pegged her with. It wasn't until her O.W.L scores had passed in front of him that he realized her true potential. He had even gone through the trouble of looking up her past grades (which were as impressive as her O.W.L scores) and was amazed that he could have over looked her so easily.

"Did well on her wizarding exams did she now, Severus?" Asked Bellatrix. Who had over heard the congratulations to her God daughter and niece.

"Yes Bellatrix, one of the highest scores in Slytherin House."

"Well done Tabitha." Uncle Rabastan added

"I suppose you've done alright in raising her Ethan and you too Lucia" She nodded towards Uncle Ethan's wife Lucia who was Lucius Malfoy's sister. "I'm sure Evan and Raphaela would have approved even though I wish I could have raised her myself." Bellatrix said with a little disdain to Ethan as she lovingly stroked Tabitha's hair.

"Yes well perhaps if you hadn't been careless and ended up in Azkaban you might have gotten the privilege to raise her. But then again if you hadn't been caught and sent to Azkaban I doubt Raphaela would have killed herself." His sneering tone made every word painful for Tabitha to hear, the thought of her mother was always difficult to bear but the thought of her mothers demise and the small abstract remembrance that always loomed in her psyche sent chills down her spine. Bellatrix was outraged and nearly lunged at Ethan but her husband had a tight grip on her and Tabitha had unknowingly held her back as well.

"No Aunt Bella, please don't." Tabitha whispered as she fought to hold back tears for the second time that night.

"We were loyal Ethan! How dare you question our loyalty to the Dark Lord!" Tabitha thought for sure she would hold him at wand point but she also knew that to draw a wand and hex a loyal member of the family may very well cause a feud and a division between the great houses, something Aunt Bella would surly not want. So instead she fixed him with an evil stare. "Your own brother was loyal. He fought to the death for the Dark Lord's honor! What lies have you been telling her about Evan and Raphaela, how dare you, dishonor them by any means."

"Stop this Bella." This time it was Lucius who spoke.

"Ethan." Aunt Lucia scolded at her husband "This is no way to treat family and guests." Uncle Ethan gave a reluctant nod then said.

"Please Pardon my rudeness Bellatrix." His voice still commanded a condescending tone but it was over looked at the moment as Bellatrix was more intently giving attention to Tabitha. Tabitha's head was hanging low and she was silently crying.

"What lies has he told you? What filth has he infested your mind with about your parents?" Bellatrix was pulling the hair that hung like a curtain away from Tabitha's face to reveal her cheeks and a few paths that tears had taken, along with the still red mark she received earlier. "Your Parents were loyal, the Dark Lord knows this. Your father fought bravely in his honor and your mother did the only thing that could save her from disgrace after the Dark Lord disappeared. They would be proud of you and want you to do well in school and marry a loyal pure blood wizard, do not listen to the lies your Uncle tells you." Her Aunt Bellatrix's words were far from comforting but at least she had managed to lead the dinner conversation in another direction.

"Speaking of marriage, Marnin Flint seems quite found of the idea of our Lucretia marring his son Marcus in a few years." Aunt Lucia could always be relied on for adding gossip into any conversation.

"The Flints are a fine wizarding family Lucy and after all young Marcus like his father was captain of the Slytherin Qudditch team. Or so Draco told me. I'm sure Lucretia will be thrilled." Said the man who Tabitha had not known at the end of the table by her Aunt Lucia but based on his blonde hair and steely eyes she easily guessed he was a Malfoy.

"Oh I'm sure she will, Lucifer. Young Marcus is so very much like his father and that's reason enough for me. Now Lucius have you and Narcissa found some one for Draco or the twins yet?" Tabitha was sure at that moment Draco was thinking the same thing she had been thinking all evening, how horrid it was to be talked about as if you weren't in the room. Tabitha also took to opportunity to steal a glance at Draco who was looking very uncomfortable somewhat to her great pleasure. Luckily for Draco the conversation was quickly steered away from any talk of his future engagement to the common wizarding topic of Quidditch. How bizarre that witches and wizards who had tortured, killed and pillaged could talk about something as normal a Quidditch. To her it seemed wrong that they should ever speak of some trivial thing like Quidditch in excited tones when they had committed crimes so heinous they had been condemned by their own society. But here she was at a table surrounded by Death Eaters who were adamantly talking about their own school days and House Quidditch matches at Hogwarts.

"Marnin Flint was one of the best Keepers Slytherin House has ever had and the youngest." Rabastan Lestrange said excitedly like he had been longing for a good reminiscence of years gone past.

"Yes, he always played a good game. Those were good times and glory years for Slytherin. Now Draco you play Seeker on the House team do you not?" Lucifer asked his nephew.

"Yes Sir." Draco replied forcefully.

"It's a true Malfoy position. All Malfoy men have played Seeker for generations. Only it seems of late the current Slytherin Seeker is not motivated enough to win his house the Cup." Lucius said with a harsh stair at his son, Draco seemed to visibly sink farther into his chair.

"Don't be too harsh on him Lucius I'm sure he is no worse than I was." Lucifer said in a mocking tone and in return his brother let out a snort of intonation.

"Yes but if I remember correctly you still led the team to two Quidditch Cups." Lucius returned, still glaring at Draco.

"As I remember it one of those Cups was won on the basis that the Chasers scored over 200 points while the other team caught the snitch but did not prevail." Keen on himself sharing in the glory, Uncle Ethan gloated that he had helped lead the Slytherin team to one of its most amazing wins.

"Very true Ethan, very true. I have you, Rabastan and Severus to thank for that." Lucifer bowed his head in appreciation to the three men.

"You were a Chaser on the House team Professor?" Draco asked unable to restrain from questioning.

"Yes he was and a damn fine one at that." Rabastan said with a smile.

"I'm hardly worthy of such praise Rabastan especially considering who the forbearer was." Snape said curtly.

"Ah, Evan was truly a magnificent player and captain. I always thought he would have done well in the professional league." Rabastan slowly drifted into thought after his remark and the whole table fell into silence. They were all inevitably thinking of things gone past or perhaps specifically the famous game where Evan Rosier scored a record breaking amount of goals and along with Lucius catching the snitch the team had also set a new score record in Hogwarts history. The stillness of the table was broken by Tabitha who said in a bewildered tone.

"My father was a Quidditch player?" All heads turned in her direction with various looks of astonishment on their faces.

"What else haven't you told her Ethan!?" Bellatrix shot at him with her arctic voice.

"Forgive me Bellatrix but there were other pressing matters to concern myself with other than relating every irrelevant fact about my brother's life to her." Uncle Ethan replied loathingly. Before the two could engage in another near dueling moment Lucius broke the tension.

"Miss Rosier your father was indeed a Quidditch player and the best Chaser Hogwarts has ever witnessed. Surely you have seen the trophies and cups with his name on them or even the plaque awarded him for breaking the school record for the most points scored in a single game." Tabitha shook her head slightly.

"No sir I haven't." With raised eye brows he then turned to Severus and his son and said

"Well Severus I dare say you should point them out to her sometime at school or you Draco, I'm sure you know where the trophy room is located."

"Yes father."

"Good and while you are there you might as well look as a reminder at all the awards Malfoys have achieved over the centuries. Perhaps that will inspire you to do better on your exams and performances on the Quidditch pitch." Lucius's glare had Draco pinned against the back of his chair so all he could do was nod his head in accent.

"Excellent, it would be a shame if there was never a cup with your name engraved into it on one of those shelves."

"I'm sure Draco is a fine Seeker Lucius, he will win Slytherin the cup. Don't you agree Tabitha?" Rabastan added trying to bring her back into the conversation.

"I wouldn't know I've never seen Draco play or any of the school games." She said rather flaccidly and again quietness fell over the table and they all turned in her direction.

"The daughter of Evan Rosier doesn't like Quidditch!" Lucifer said in surprise. This comment was far from true, she did like Quidditch and in fact she often checked the Daily Prophet to see how the Ballycastle Bats, her favorite team was doing every season. School Quidditch was different though she always thought it a means to fix the houses against each other and create a kind of disharmony in the school. So she would spend her time exploring the castle and wandering the halls while the rest of the students and staff were enthralled down on the pitch. Quidditch matches also meant she would have to appear in Slytherin spirit with the rest of the house, which was something she was never enthusiastic about.

"I never said I disliked Quidditch." Tabitha commented. "I enjoy the professional league games-."

"Don't like the amateurs?" Uncle Rabastan cut it. "I myself always preferred the real sport. I was always rather fond of the Magpies." Tabitha wasn't listening however she had caught the suspicious gaze of her professor who undoubtedly was wondering if he had ever seen her at one of the games or not. It was also just then as dessert was being served that the twins burst into the dinning hall giggling. Larissa immediately ran for Draco who picked her up willingly and placed her on his lap while Larina rounded the table to stand by Tabitha.

"I thought I told you two to stay out of the dinning hall." When talking to his daughters Lucius was surprisingly calm but the sternness was not completely void from his voice.

"We wanted Draco and Tabby-tha to come play cards with us." Replied Larissa in her usual sweet voice.

"You have Egan and Lucretia to play cards with you." Lucius said as he lightly touched the bow in her yellow hair and then traced a finger down her cheek to under her chin.

"But we want Draco and Tabby-tha to play too, please Papa." This time it was Larina who begged from across the table.

"May I go Sir?" Asked Draco in a hushed voice to his father. Before Lucius could reply his wife had risen, placed a delicate hand on her husbands shoulder and beckoned her children to her. Narcissa Malfoy was the essence of beauty, with a halo of long flaxen hair and angelic pale eyes much like her daughters. All three of the Black sisters were striking, in their own ways. Bellatrix was a vixen demon loyal to the master of darkness, the unmentionable sister was purely human and true to her own heart while little Narcissa was the angel, negated of choice and unwaveringly devoted to her lord, her fallen angel, her husband. Tabitha slowly started getting out of her chair when her uncle Ethan interrupted and said.

"Tabitha stays." Larina gave her a sad forlorn face and then slowly walked to her mothers out stretched hand and followed her siblings back into the drawing room. The only word that came to Tabitha's mind was 'unfair'. Aunt Lucia sensing the opportunity once again picked up the topic of marriage.

"So Lucius have you had any luck finding a bride for Draco or suitable matches for the twins?"

"The girls are still very young and I dislike the thought of having to give them away just yet." For being a cold blooded murderer and Death Eater Lucius showed an uncharacteristic affection for his daughters.

"What about Draco, have you furthered the idea of perhaps him and Miss Parkinson?"

"Narcissa and I have yet to agree on any one girl currently." Tabitha felt restless and the unfairness of her Uncle making her stay was annoying her to no end.

"Uncle, may I please be dismissed to go play cards with the others?" Her voice was quiet as she didn't want to disturb the other conversation occurring at the other end of the table.

"No, I told you to stay and I have my reasons." The other conversation had seized and all again turned to look at Tabitha. "Now I told you to stay because the subject or your own marriage needs to be addressed now that your other relations are present." His stare was fixed on the three Lestranges sitting to his right. "Now I have no need to keep you under my care any longer than I have to and seeing how your other relatives are currently unable to care for you I propose for you to be married, soon." The other quests at the table all looked just as stunned as Tabitha. Married? She wasn't even quite sixteen and he wanted her married. "Now Lucius I was actually hoping you would be willing to take Tabitha as Draco's bride. But if not I do have a few others in mind, perhaps the young Mr. Crabbe or Mr. Goyle." The thought of being married to Crabbe or Goyle was almost reason enough for Tabitha to vomit up the measly amount she had eaten already let alone the rich chocolate mousse the house elves had prepared for dessert. Professor Snape caught her panicked and sickening look and found he was thinking what a waste it would be to have such an obviously bright and attractive girl married to Crabbe or Goyle. Who would no sooner appreciate her abilities than they could think past their next meal.

"Ethan you can't be serious dear, even if Lucius agrees they wouldn't me married for another year or two. And can you imagine the horrid looking offspring if you married her to either Mr. Crabbe or Goyle. " Lucia added. The mere thought of having to share a bed and bear children with Crabbe or Goyle made Tabitha recoil with revulsion.

"Yes why waste such beauty on one of those two fat idiots." Bellatrix said with a quick glance at her own husband as she again started to stroke Tabitha's hair. It just had to be then that Tabitha locked eyes with Professor Snape and Rabastan happen to notice.

"What about you Severus? Are you looking for a bride? Tabitha might do well for you." Snape shot him a quizzical look and after a moments thought said.

"I am honored that you feel I am fit enough to wed your own niece, Rabastan but would you have her marry her Professor?" His voice was smooth and even but carried the hint that he was not pleased to be put on the spot.

"She will do as she is told Severus." Uncle Ethan replied.

"And you are a far cry more acceptable than Mr. Crabbe or Goyle." Aunt Lucia nearly spat.

"Severus, your family is as old as the House of Black; you are a fine choice for a girl whose blood runs rich with magic from the Houses of Lestrange and Rosier." Tabitha's head had again returned to its hanging state as her mind raced over the thought of her marrying her Potions professor and Head of House.

"Very true Bellatrix and Severus if I am not much mistaken you do not inherit the Snape family fortune or castle until you have wed, is that not so." Rabastan added.

"Indeed." Snape replied acidly.

"As my esteemed friend and guest for having freed my dear brother-in-law from disgrace I simply cannot allow you to leave this party with out being properly rewarded. And I see no better way to repay you than with a lovely bride and the assurance of your family's fortune." Uncle Ethan sounded very sincere but Tabitha guessed it was only because if she were to marry her Professor they would not have to wait for her or her future husband to come of age. In the wizarding world (as in the Muggle) an underage girl could be allowed to marry an of age man if her family or guardians permitted it. Tabitha also knew that her Uncle wished her out of his care as soon as possible and a marriage to Severus Snape would put her in her Professors care.

"I must concur with Ethan on this matter Severus. She would make you a fine match and as you have already informed us she is quite the intellectual and perhaps her conversation wouldn't be as mindless as some." Lucius's comment seemed to be somewhat intentioned to his sister but then again Aunt Lucia was mindless enough not to notice.

"So what say you Severus, does she meet with your approval for a wife." Asked Rabastan. Snape who had expected these evenings' proceedings to be dull found it hard to believe that he would be most likely leaving with the future prospect of a wife who indecently was also his student.

"She is an admirable young woman to be sure but what will Dumbledore think when I marry one of my own students. Surely the school governors wouldn't look at it approvingly." He was doing his best to reject her with out either of them losing their honor or dignity but it was starting to look like a lost effort.

"Do not trouble yourself with the governors they will say nothing on the matter." Lucius drawled.

"It will all be legal I assure you, Severus. I'm perfectly willing to sign her away to you. I'd do it right now if the papers were present." Uncle Ethan was starting to sound rather giddy.

"How could you possibly resist her Severus?" Bellatrix said as she traced a finger down Tabitha's unblemished pale cheek. Uncle Ethan then grabbed her by the wrist again and yanked her to her feet and towards her Professor.

"Show yourself to him! Let him see what he is agreeing to."

"Yes Sir." Tabitha whispered as she went to kneel beside Snape's chair.

"See Severus she is very obedient and if she does disobey you she is easily reprimanded." He made a slight gesture to the mark still visible on her left cheek. Snape's hand cupped her face and raised it as if inspecting her but in reality he was trying to read her expression and see if she was willing for him to take her as his wife. He was quite skilled with occlumancy but with out pulling his wand on her he was left to simply read the expression her eyes were giving. He was fairly certain that if given the choice of him, Crabbe or Goyle she would choose him. It also struck him that she was most unhappy and out of place in her uncles home and would most likely welcome any opportunity to escape it. At the same time Tabitha's own thoughts were teaming with the bizarrely happy thought that it was better him than Vincent Crabbe or Gregory Goyle but she would rather not even have to marry if it were an option, which it appeared it wasn't. She did however ponder the thought of how he would treat her. He did not seem very pleased with the thought of having a wife and might very well treat her every bit as bad as Uncle Ethan but she would rather take that chance than remain here over vacations. His hands had now glided down her neck and into her very long hair and she found herself strangely enjoying his touch. She afforded him a very small smile hoping he would see it and accept her uncle's offer just to spare her the shame of ever having to take the name of Crabbe or Goyle. Luckily he did.

"I accept but only on these conditions. I request the vault key to her Gringotts account, a secret and somewhat lengthy engagement along with her full guardianship signed over to me upon our marriage." His voice was coldly in control and demanding.

"Very well Severus but I must press upon you it is best to marry her soon." Uncle Ethan sounded a little less than pleased with the conditions.

"I think I would prefer to wait a little while so as she may ripen a little more." As he spoke his hand crossed over her young breasts which caused Tabitha to quickly inhale a tiny breath of air and hold it until his hands had passed. Severus was doing his best not to raise suspicions and to act the part of a true Death Eater and not a now reformed man acting as a spy against the people he was now conversing with.

"Indeed." Uncle Ethan responded flatly.

"By the time the New Year comes she will be more than ready." Snape said feeling a great well of pity for Tabitha who probably thought as soon as they were wed would drag her off to his bed.

"Good. Then you may marry her by the Christmas Holidays so she can remain with you at the school or retreat to one of your estates for the honeymoon."

"Agreed."

"Well hear hear to the newly engaged couple! A toast in their honor." Lucius held up his goblet of wine and the others followed suit. Tabitha found her way back to her chair and rather ungracefully sat down in it. Even though Snape was a better option for a husband than most others her uncle could have chosen his comments about her had made her feel uneasy and scared.

In less than six months she would be married to the man sitting opposite her at the table and some how after hearing his words she doubted he would spare her of any married duties. As for having a secret engagement, that was as likely as the Chudley Cannons winning the Quidditch Cup anytime soon. As soon as she returned to Hogwarts someone (most likely Draco or Lucretia) would mention it to one of their friends and then like all secrets at Hogwarts it would spread faster than a snitch flies. As the conversations at the table droned on Tabitha downed her glass of wine hoping that on her near empty stomach it would numb her before she was sent back to her room. Once again her thoughts wondered over the thought 'why didn't I jump when I had the chance.

Disclaimer: This is just for fun, not for money. Kleo