HOUSE SNONKSGOOD.

[bestunrevealed]

This is the house of Snonksgood. To the street it is a three story brownstone in Brooklyn, and distressingly plain. There is no neon in the single window, which does not allow a view of the inside; deep, dark green curtains obscure the inside of the shop. After all, quite a few of the potions and ingredients are heat and light-sensitive

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[blackest_malfoy]

There are many things about this city that cause her concern - chiefly the fact that neither her husband or son appear to be here. The names on the mailbox are the first familiar ones to see, and although two of them make her uncomfortable (for the Lovegood she knew had been kept in her basement and tortured, and the Tonks was someone who had once been her sister) the third is enough for her to take note and pause.

She steps up to the door and lifts her hand to knock firmly.

[bestunrevealed]

Snape is just wrapping up things in the shop, and never, frankly, expects anyone socially. Still, he bets on it being Ron or Harry or Lily. He is surrounded by a pack of Gryffindors and while it is no surprise that the 'thinking' houses of Ravenclaw and Slytherin have gathered here...

Well, he's not expecting a new Snake at the door.

"Narcissa." He doesn't even know what to say at first. "Come in," is the natural answer, though.

[blackest_malfoy]

She'd come because she'd seen the listing in the business directory, because she'd had to -- being in this strange city as she was.

She nods. "Severus. I had hoped none of your other ... roommates were going to answer." Narcissa steps over the threshold, glad to be out of the strangeness of the city and into some at least familiar-smelling rooms. "It is good to see you."

It sounds genuine, but he shouldn't be too surprised about that much.

[bestunrevealed]

"Ms. Lovegood is out -- communing with something or looking for ... whatever it is she believes it out there. Andromeda is likely eating breakfast, as she has a late night ER shift." He'll just go ahead and confirm all her suspicions. "They share a flat upstairs over the apothecary. I maintain one in the basement. Come in, I'll get some tea on before supper."

He leads her downstairs to his modest home, and to the kitchen where he puts the kettle on. Today a spicy curry simmers, and the house smells of saffron and tumeric.

It's a good, warm smell.

[blackest_malfoy]

Yes, well. At least he's giving her the information she's sure he knows she wants. She makes a mental note to avoid the upstairs flat at least until -- she knows where she stands with Andromeda. Maybe until she gains a little nerve.

"Of course you do." It would kill him to get some sun, wouldn't it? She follows into the kitchen and takes a seat at the table, brows furrowed.

"I had heard the dead came here..." she looks over to him as he puts the kettle on, expecting he'll join her when he's finished up.

[bestunrevealed]

What use does a man like him need the sun for? Beyond basic vitamin D -- he doesn't frolic in the flowers or enjoy the warmth...

Meh.

"Did you now. What dead person are you looking for?" The one standing in front of you, maybe?

[blackest_malfoy]

She arches her brow at him.

"I came here from the end of the war, Severus. The very end."

She's not going to say anything else until she's sure that he's from the same spot. Unlike her sister, she has that much tact.

[bestunrevealed]

"I hear it was a very grand affair. Fifty-seven dead, by Potter's count. I was already dead before the final battle, so he doesn't put me in that number, or so I suspect."

Severus, blunt like hammer.

"I nearly died coming here; the damned machine grabbed me as I was dying, and then left me poisoned but closed up the wounds. Thankfully, I had a bezoar and got help in using it."

[blackest_malfoy]

Narcissa nods slowly. She's glad to hear he isn't properly dead, being here as he is.

"And I suppose he has given you certain details about those from the other side?"

Severus isn't the only one who's technically labelled a Traitor to the Dark Lord.

[bestunrevealed]

"Remarkably little. I know Bellatrix is here, but she believes herself to be gleefully victorious," he says, and shrugs once. Tea is being worked on, and he also has to pause and stir the curry in the pot.

[blackest_malfoy]

"Before she is artfully blown up by Molly Weasley, then."

There's bitterness in her voice and she isn't sure where to place it, exactly. The woman who killed her sister, the sister who put her love of the Dark Lord over all else -- blind to who it might've been hurting.

[bestunrevealed]

Snape has to swallow down a Cheers for Molly, then!; Bellatrix was a thorn in his side and the embodiment of all that was wrong in the Death Eaters. Knowing that the housewife killed her? It's the irony flavored frosting on the proverbial birthday cake.

"I see," he says instead. "She'll learn the hard way, I'm sure."

[blackest_malfoy]

"Indeed," she says with a frown, glancing at the table briefly.

She considers her words. "Draco and Lucius will be safe," she says, "As will I." Whether he asks why or not is his own choice.

[bestunrevealed]

"I know."

He's no fool. And also, well informed.

"You're a great-aunt. Teddy, Andromeda calls him. I had only heard of the joyous news from a distance of course."

[blackest_malfoy]

"So I have heard as well."

From a distance also.

[bestunrevealed]

"You could always try and mend fences here," says Snape as he comes back with tea and scones, as he seems to be making them constantly these days as they are very popular in Snonksgood House.

"Not that I am rushing to embrace your cousin or his friends as brothers," so fence mending may only go so far, "but there is some measure of peace and we leave well enough alone so far."