Disclaimer: I don't own anything, just like to play with JKR's toys!
Rating: Anywhere from R to M, read at your own risk (and yes it's boy on boy so get over it)
A/N: Hey guys, I wanted to thank all of you who read the first chapter. This is my first fic, and it was really heartwarming to see so many people interested and getting updates. A special thanks to CryingxInside for giving me my first comment! ::high five:: Thanks Again! –RR
Chapter 2: A Magical Anomaly
Draco finally hit the ground again, but before he could get in a word, his protector spun again. When they landed at their new destination, Severus ran a few feet and turned a third time. He continued this routine for nearly ten turns until Draco finally fell face first into the ground, vomiting.
"Come, Draco. Do not dawdle," the potions master said to his pupil as he attempted to lift him to his feet and out of his own bile.
"Severus, who are we running from?" Draco whined, yanking his arm back to keep from falling completely into his own sick.
"Draco Lucius Malfoy if you hold any value in your own life, you will stand up and get inside before you ruin us both. I will explain there."
Draco's head snapped up at the use of his full name – Severus Snape was terrified of something…and only one thing truly terrified him: the Dark Lord. Without another word, the blond pulled himself up and dusted off his knees and walked as his godfather directed. They were walking down a very run down street lined with dark brick houses and nearly opaque windows.
"What a dung heap," Draco muttered to himself.
"Silence!" the nearly hysterical man hissed as he shook the boy and walked with even greater urgency.
When the pair finally approached a single house, the potions master walked up and unlocked the door from a set of keys he pulled from his robes. Draco was pushed in and his godfather snapped the door shut behind them both.
"Come Draco," he said, pushing passed the blond that was still not keeping up on what exactly was happening to him. Severus led him into the back of the house and opened the door to the cellar, motioning his godson to precede him. Draco was slightly wary until with a flick of the wand, light was brought into the cellar.
As he looked around, Draco began to see it for what it was, this was Snape's home potion lab. Severus seemed to swoop down onto the floor and pull a medicine bag out of a cupboard up above, then continued to stuff it with nearly every potion he could grab, nearly emptying the whole cabinet. Then he moved on to the next one and continued the process. When Draco thought the bag was fit to burst with its contents, Severus walked over to the shelf and started stuffing books into the bottom. As he moved onto the second bookcase, Draco had finally met his breaking point.
"Severus, what is going on?"
"Something has happened, and you have to go."
"What happened?"
"Draco, we do not have time-"
"Severus, if I am going to be running for my life, I think I should at least know what it is I am running from." Draco knew that although there were a lot of potions in that bag, there were far more at Hogwarts, should his professor ever be allowed to set foot back on the grounds. The great tomes that had followed the potions were also most likely available at the school, not that they were even needed. The potions master had more likely than not memorized them completely. These were for Draco, and it would be a long time before he would see his godfather again. This medicine satchel was a parting gift.
"What do you know of Merlin, Draco?" The look in his godfather's eye showed that this was not a mere non sequitur.
"He was the greatest wizard of his time, well, all time for that matter. No one has yet been known to have surpassed him in ability. He could project images to masses of people, foretell the outcomes of battles, before the kingdoms in question even existed, he could control the elements themselves-"
"Ten points to Slytherin," he muttered with the faintest ghost of a smirk. "An anomaly has occurred," he continued, easily slipping into his lecturing professor mode. "A momentous amount of magic was dispelled yesterday. I have speculations as to who caused it, but not how or why. What we felt was primarily our own magic being drawn upon by the caster, and then returned to us at the completion of the spell. Never since Merlin has anything of this caliber been documented, nothing close. What I do know is that this … event … has made the Dark Lord nervous. He had plans all along to kill Bathilda Bagshot and leave a trap for Potter, but not until yesterday did he see it as urgent. If there is another wizard running about with more power than himself, he has a right to be nervous."
"What does that have to do with me?" Draco asked, still thoroughly confused.
"Bathilda lived up the street from the Potters. I did not want to run the risk of you being seen should the Dark Lord feel…nostalgic."
Draco continued to ponder that as the potions master brought out a second satchel and began to fill it with food, canteens, blankets, a shrunken tent and all the accoutrements of camping. Draco hated camping.
"What happened that it frightened the Dark Lord? I thought he was a bloodthirsty villain that did nothing but kill to get at Saint Potter. Surely he is-"
"The Dark Lord is neither stupid, nor simple, Draco. He is fully aware of the ramifications of this event, and he sees this as the calling card of a wizard rallying against him. He seems to believe that it was a follower of Dumbledore that has taken up his mantle."
"But you believe something else?" Draco supplied to the vague allusion.
"As loathsome as it is to my psyche and my pride, yes I believe I know who did it. I will not say anything as of yet, but if I find out who it was, I will tell you next time I see you," Severus said as he snapped the last satchel closed. "We must go. Take my hand," he said as he held out his hand.
"Can we take it a bit slower? I'd like to keep what's left of my lunch in my stomach."
His Godfather gave him the hint of a smirk as the blond took his hand. Draco clamped his mouth shut and closed his eyes as he felt the tug behind his navel that told him they were Apparating. True to the word that he hadn't quite given, the potions master did take it slower and began to walk a few steps then turned again. They only Apparated three times when Snape let go of Draco's hand.
"Sev, where are we?" Draco asked, opening his eyes.
"This is the Forest of Dean, Draco. You will need to camp here for the night, then move on to another place in the morning. Always Apparate, never stay in a village, never stay anywhere near people, never been seen. The Dark Lord will have scouts out looking for you, and others…All things considered, you should be on better terms than living in the Potter house, but you must not be seen."
"Yes, Severus, I understand." Even Draco could hear the waver in his voice as he took a step into the forest. He only walked a little ways before he found a clearing big enough and from the sound of robes through the underbrush, Severus had followed him.
Draco waved his wand and a small tent sprang up and Draco ducked inside, leaving Severus outside the tent. The tent wasn't lavish, by any stretch of the imagination, but it had two bedrooms and a kitchen, fully equipped with dining table and four wooden chairs. Transfiguration was never a huge talent of Draco's, but he was passable. He walked to the dining table and set down the satchels and walked back out. Severus was walking around the clearing muttering words to himself.
"Cave Inimicum, Protego Totalum, Protego Muggletum."
With a sigh, Severus turned back to Draco, "You must always protect yourself, I won't be here to ward your tent every time," the potions master scolded.
Draco just nodded, finally realizing that he was on his own. Severus would not be there to help him anymore.
Severus seeing his godson so scared made him uncomfortable. "Well, it doesn't do to dawdle," he said as he began to walk away.
"Severus," Draco spoke up just as Severus was about to step outside the wards, "can you at least tell me what has caused this? What is the magical anomaly you speak of?"
"A tree, a tree of gold, carved with all the names of those who have already fallen in this war."
Draco chuckled, "That's it? I can turn a tree to gold, that is hardly-"
"Do not mistake, Draco, this tree was not under a Glamour Charm to make it appear as gold, nor was the bark temporarily turned to metal. The entire tree was as if cast from ore, complete with gold leaves, and fruit, all of solid gold. As I said before, not even Merlin was so astute in alchemy to change an entire tree to gold. Take care of yourself, Draco, and I pray to Merlin that we will see each other again, when this is all over." With that, the man swept out of the clearing like a bat, and with a small pop was gone.
Draco stared at the spot, as if not believing that he was already a casualty of this war.
A/N: Sorry it's a little late, I got hung up at work. Comment and let me know what you think. The story isn't finished, but I already know where I want to go with it. Next week is going to be Draco coping on his own, for the most part. Thanks Again!!!! -RR
