Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
A/N: I don't think of this as slash. More of a a godfather/godson thing. I've always liked the thought of Severus and Draco being close.
Severus Snape watched as the younger boy moved from the entrance of the Great Hall to the Slytherin table. His blonde hair was disheveled, and he had dark shadows underneath his eyes. It had been two days since Katie Bell had touched the cursed necklace. Draco's robes were wrinkled and crumpled, and his skin was paler than usual, if that was even possible.
This whole thing was tearing on him. Severus saw the glance he shot towards the staff table, before taking his place among his house mates. Blaise Zabini nodded to him, and the darker boy lay a hand on Draco's shoulder, before returning to his food. Draco looked a little better, and he smiled, a real smile, before reaching for some food, hesitantly. He picked on his food, and ignored the glances from the other Slytherins.
Severus got the urge to comfort the younger. But he had already done all he could, he had made a unbreakable vow to protect him, and that was all he could do, without blowing his cover. As much as he, to his own surprise, wanted to help the boy, there wasn't much he could do. He was just a part of a bigger plan, as was Severus. A bigger plan, made by Dumbledore, and perhaps, Voldemort.
Severus watched, as the boy raised from his seat, and with a pained look on the Gryffindor table, walked out of the Great Hall. His shoulders were slouched, and he looked nothing like the perfect, proud Malfoy heir he had been last year.
As much as Severus Snape would deny it, he wanted to comfort the boy. But what could he do? They were both just pieces in a bigger picture.