Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - J.K. Rowling

J.K. Rowling
HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE
“Snape,” she said curtly as she passed him.
“Bellatrix,” he replied, his thin mouth curling into a slightly mocking
smile as he closed the door with a snap behind them.
They had stepped directly into a tiny sitting room, which had the feeling
of a dark, padded cell. The walls were completely covered in books, most
of them bound in old black or brown leather; a threadbare sofa, an old armchair,
and a rickety table stood grouped together in a pool of dim light cast
by a candle-filled lamp hung from the ceiling. The place had an air of neglect,
as though it was not usually inhabited.
Snape gestured Narcissa to the sofa. She threw off her cloak, cast it aside,
and sat down, staring at her white and trembling hands clasped in her lap.
Bellatrix lowered her hood more slowly. Dark as her sister was fair, with
heavily lidded eyes and a strong jaw, she did not take her gaze from Snape
as she moved to stand behind Narcissa.
“So, what can I do for you?” Snape asked, settling himself in the armchair
opposite the two sisters.
“We... we are alone, aren’t we?” Narcissa asked quietly.
“Yes, of course. Well, Wormtail’s here, but we’re not counting vermin,
are we?”
He pointed his wand at the wall of books behind him and with a bang, a
hidden door flew open, revealing a narrow staircase upon which a small
man stood frozen.
“As you have clearly realized, Wormtail, we have guests,” said Snape
lazily.
The man crept, hunchbacked, down the last few steps and moved into the
room. He had small, watery eyes, a pointed nose, and wore an unpleasant
simper. His left hand was caressing his right, which looked as though it was
encased in a bright silver glove.
“Narcissa!” he said, in a squeaky voice. “And Bellatrix! How charming.”
“Wormtail will get us drinks, if you’d like them,” said Snape. “And then
he will return to his bedroom.”
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