#p:loyalty

[crabbeapple]

Loyalty || Sep and Lucius || Jan 5, 1968

Date: January 5th, 1968 Time: 5:00PM Location: Slytherin common room, Hogwarts @slipperyfriend

Despite the wintery landscape outside Hogwarts castle, with a cold wind rattling the windows and several feet of snow burying the grounds, the Slytherin common room was far from chilly. Though it lay under the lake and had a general air of subterranean elegance, the fires in the hearths and enchantments laced into the walls themselves made sure that the students who made their home there were never uncomfortable. 

Septimus Crabbe slouched through the entrance to the room and glowered around at the occupants. Halfway into his 5th year and he still wasn’t used to not having Ramsey Goyle at his side. His best mate had graduated the previous year and Sep found that life at Hogwarts was significantly less enjoyable without him. Still, it wasn’t like he was completely on his own. A familiar blond head caught his eye and Sep’s frown vanished.

“Hey,” he said, crossing the room in several long strides and falling into a chair next to Lucius Malfoy. “Haven’t seen you all day. Can you believe, been back like five minutes and that cow McGonagall’s already been breathing down my neck for smoking on the grounds! Fuckin’ hell. How’s a witch that fit manage to still be an old bat, eh?”

Lounging back in his chair, he dragged a hand through his hair. Unlike Lucius’ seemingly always-perfect pale hair, Sep’s own blond was an unnatural bleached shade. He’d caught more than an earful for that over the break. He suspected that if the Christmas holidays had been any longer, his father would’ve found the time to take matters into his own hands and he’d be forced back to his natural dirty blond. The thought made him sneer, before he refocused. He was back at school now, far from the bastard’s reach.

“Anyway, how was your Christmas?” he asked. “Barely saw you at the big soiree on Christmas Eve.” Merlin, he hated those big fancy parties. And he knew that despite appearances, Lucius didn’t care much for them either. Not that either of them had much choice in the matter about attending the bloody things. Sep at least had managed to hang out with Ramsey for most of it, avoiding his parents, who seemed much too keen of late about finding him a witch to be paired with. Like he wanted to have anything to do with any of the boring birds they would think were suitable for him!

[crabbeapple]

Loyalty || Sep and Narcissa || Magic is Might | April 25, 1980

Date: April 25th, 1980 Time: 8:30AM Location: Diagon Alley, London @forever-toujourspur

The sun over London was shining through the clouds, spring was in the air and it was shaping up to be a beautiful day.

Septimus Crabbe had been in a good mood from the moment he’d woken up. Maybe it had been pleasant dreams (he couldn’t remember) or the kisses he’d shared with Auriga in bed before they’d checked in on Vinnie (time when their baby wasn’t crying was precious, indeed) or the fact that it was his best mate’s birthday (he wished they could be fighting side by side on this mission, but he’d make sure he and Ramsey had a grand old time together later). Maybe it was just the spring weather. Maybe it was the prospect of putting a bunch of Muggle-loving blood traitors and mudbloods in their place. Whatever the case, he’d nearly been whistling as he donned his black cloak and silver Death Eater’s mask.

The only thing marring his mood was the niggling thought of Mary MacDonald. He’d met the pretty journalist not long ago and he knew she worked for the Daily Prophet, the target for the attack he and several other Death Eaters were about to launch. She’d been nice and had enthusiastically complimented the toys he carved. Not really the kind of person he wanted to see be murdered. Still, orders were orders and it was better her than him. You didn’t defy the Dark Lord. Certainly not for the pretty face and flattering words of a witch he’d only met once.

He’d apparated into the deep shadows of a narrow side alley, easily out of sight of the oblivious passersby on Diagon Alley’s main thoroughfare. There weren’t many people out and about yet. Half nine was too early for most shoppers, so most of the witches and wizards on the cobbles were on their way to work. Like the luckless employees of the Daily Prophet offices. Another Death Eater had appeared a few feet ahead of Sep -- he had no idea who they were, nor did he particularly care -- and he followed in their wake as they edged closer to the street.

Whoever they were, they were a touch shorter than he was and just as he was about to follow them into the open, wand drawn and ready for attack, he spotted something that gave him pause. Or rather, someone.

Narcissa Malfoy was making her way down the high street, moving with a stately grace that ought to have been impossible for a pregnant woman to achieve. And right into the soon-to-be fray of the attack.

He knew that Lucius tried to keep his wife out of the shadow of the Dark Lord and the violence of their duties as Death Eaters. Hell, he did the same with Aurie! But had Lucius not thought to warn Narcissa to stay out of Diagon today? The Malfoys were already under scrutiny and suspicion from the Aurors. It wouldn’t look good if any onlookers made note of the Lady Malfoy’s presence at the scene of an attack. Or worse, what if she was hurt in the crossfire?

Muttering a curse under his breath, Sep made a split-second decision. Before he had a chance to contemplate it, he was stepping back into the shadows, pulling off his mask and disapparating.

He reappeared an instant later on the stoop of a shop whose windows were still shuttered, just a few feet away from where Narcissa was walking. “Narcissa!” he called, pitching his voice as a stage-whisper, trying to catch her attention but no one else’s. “Narcissa!”