Chapter 4 - Hogwarts
Gabriel followed Lucius and Narcissa through the wall and onto platform nine and three quarters, Draco's hand held tightly in his own as he stared straight ahead. After everything he'd seen and done over the last six years, nothing could really stun or shock him anymore. Certainly not a garish red steam engine.
They'd come early in order not to meet up with any students and after a hug from each of his godparents and promising to write he allowed Draco to pull him onto the train and into a compartment, which he immediately locked and warded, and they settled down to wait.
Draco idly ran his fingers over Gabriel's hand, easily feeling the tension running through the young man he was bound to so tightly. It was only after his coming of age that Gabriel had let the bond between them open fully, hesitant to let Draco feel the pain that had flooded through him the night of his seventeenth birthday.
The young man stared out the window as more and more students began to fill the platform and Draco watched the different expressions flit across his face.
'Your father won't let Dumbledore try anything on you.' He murmured and Gabriel turned to him, a soft smile on his face.
'I know.' Gabriel whispered, lifting Draco's hand in his and kissing the fingers. 'It is not Dumbledore that concerns me. I have a plan of my own which should just about give him a heart attack and make him quickly realise that he has no chance in Hades of ever getting me on side. No, it's you. I don't know how I will be able to spend so many hours away from you each day.' He said sincerely, gently caressing Draco's cheek. His vampire inheritance had strengthened since his birthday and Gabriel wondered whether he could even let the blond out of his sight.
Draco leant into the hand and sighed. 'I know. But you have to. You are a strong wizard, Gabe and an even stronger person. You can do this. Just remember that I will always be there if you need me.'
Gabriel sighed and nodded, pulling Draco close and kissing him softly. 'I know.'
'So,' Draco pulled slightly away, a mischievous glint in his eyes. 'What's this plan you have for the old man?'
Gabriel grinned and proceeded to explain what he had in mind. By the time he finished the train was well out of London and steaming its way towards the Scottish border.
'What do you think about meeting some of the other Slytherins?' Draco asked finally.
Gabriel shrugged. 'I don't mind.'
'Why don't you stay here and I'll go and find them. I'd hate to spoil the surprise for everyone else after all.' The blond chuckled.
Gabriel smiled and nodded and Draco dragged himself up off the chair and waited until Gabriel dropped the warding spells before ducking out the door leaving Gabriel to return his attention to the window and try not to concern himself of what his husband was up to for every minute that passed. Eventually he stood and began to ace the confined space slowly counting to one hundred. He was just about to leave and search for his mate when Draco returend, two enormous boys and a pug faced girl quickly following him. All were giggling like school girls and the final member of the group, an exotic looking dark eyed boy was scowling at them in consternation.
Gabriel raised an eyebrow. 'What did you do?' He asked mildly, folding his arms over his chest.
The others stopped laughing and stared at him in surprise but Draco continued giggling and stumbled over to Gabriel, and grabbed his arm, burying his face in the other's shoulder. 'It wasn't my fault, really. The Weasel was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Honestly.' He insisted, a stray chuckle escaping him every so often.
Gabriel raised an eyebrow, making the resemblance to his father even more pronounced and smirked. 'Sure he was.' Gabriel drawled.
'Er, Draco, who's your friend.' The dark haired boy asked curiously.
Draco quickly stopped chuckling and turned to his friends, pointing them out one at a time. 'Crabbe and Goyle.' He said, pointing to the two hulking figures still guarding the doorway. Gabriel realised that they couldn't be much more than squibs if they couldn't feel the weight of the wards he had up that kept others away. 'Blaise Zabini.' Draco went on, pointing to the boy with dark hair. 'And Pansy Parkinson.'
Draco nodded his head towards Pansy who had been eyeing the closeness with which Draco and Gabriel had been standing and immediately latched onto the arm furthest from Gabriel, tugging him away from the taller boy.
'Oh Draco, why didn't you owl me all summer. I missed you so much. You were supposed to take me to Diagon Alley.' She cried, reaching up to smooth his hair as Blaise rolled his eyes and sat down.
'Lay off him Pansy.' He sighed as if he'd said it a hundred times before.
'I agree.' Gabriel's expression was stony and suddenly there was an electrifying tension in the air.
Draco saw the look on his face and quickly untangled his arm, pushing Pansy down into the seat beside Blaise and stepping up to Gabriel's side. 'No one but you.' He whispered softly, cupping Gabriel's cheeks and looking deep into the black eyes.
Gabriel continued staring at Draco for several minutes before he nodded. 'No one.' He agreed before placing a searing kiss on Draco's lips that had all four of the Slytherin's jaws dropping.
When they finally came up for air Gabriel let Draco turn round to his stunned friends within Gabe's arms but the taller boy refused to let him go, keeping his arms around him possessively as Draco tried to figure out a way to explain everything.
'Perhaps you should all sit down, this could take awhile.'
Goyle sat down beside Pansy and Gabriel wandlessly conjured a chair for Crabbe that had the others eyes widening to match their jaws.
'We're sitting now. Perhaps you should start.' Blaise prompted, finally shaking off his shocked expression.
Gabriel sat back down, making sure to keep Draco close beside him as he eyed Pansy.
'This is Gabriel. He's Severus son.' Draco blurted out.
'You're kidding?' Pansy gasped.
'Tactful.' Gabriel murmured and Draco elbowed him sharply in the ribs.
'He's been living with Severus since he was five and just graduated Arcadia last year. He's coming to Hogwarts to apprentice for his Potions Mastery.
'Arcadia? Really?' Goyle grunted out making Gabriel realise he mightn't be quite as stupid as he looked.
'Son?' Pansy said again. Obviously she was having trouble moving past that point.
'If he's graduated Arcadia does he really need to apprentice with Professor Snape?' Blaise' question threw them slightly and Draco and Gabriel glanced at each other, a silent conversation passing between them.
After a few moments Gabriel nodded.
Draco sighed and leant back against Gabriel, feeling the warmth flood the bond and smiling softly. 'That is really just a cover. Gabriel and I are bonded.'
'What?' Pansy shrieked, launching herself up off the bench seat and towards Draco.
No one knew exactly what happened next but one minute Gabriel and Draco were sitting entwined on the seat and the next Draco was held protectively behind the dark haired figure who was glaring menacingly down at a now cowering Pansy.
'You will lose your ideas of ever becoming the next Mrs Malfoy immediately.' Gabriel whispered, the silky voice not quite hiding the threat contained within it. 'There will never be another Mrs Malfoy. Draco is mine. No one will ever touch him again. Do you understand?' It wasn't really a question and Pansy nodded.
'Gabe.' Draco murmured, winding his arms around Gabriel from behind and leaning his head between the boy's shoulder blades. 'She didn't mean anything by it. Please calm down.'
Gabriel sucked in a breath, tearing his eyes from the girl and shutting them tightly as he turned back to Draco. 'I can't do this.' He whispered. It had been so much easier at home, with no one but their parents there. Draco turned him around and pushed him back into his seat.
'Yes, you can, Gabe. I promise you, you can.' Draco murmured sitting beside him but shielding their conversation from the others with his body.
'I can't control myself around one of your friends. How am I going to handle everyone else?' Gabriel breathed.
'No one else would dare touch Draco like that.' Blaise said softly, showing that he could still hear their conversation. Draco and Gabriel looked up at the boy. 'Veela or Vampire?' He asked curiously, causing Pansy and Crabbe to gasp softly. Obviously neither of the hulking boys was stupid, just not very magically gifted.
Gabriel hung his head. 'Both.' He whispered.
'No.' Draco said loudly, grabbing Gabe's chin and yanking it upwards. 'Don't you dare start thinking your inheritance is a bad thing. You should be proud of what you are.'
'Dray.' Gabriel whispered, his eyes pleading for something but he didn't know what.
'We should go.' Blaise said tactfully. 'We'll see you at dinner, Draco. Nice meeting you Gabriel.' He added as he bundled all three of the others out the door and closed it behind him.
'I don't know what to do.' Gabriel breathed. 'I've never felt so out of control.'
Draco gently ran his fingers over Gabriel's face, moving closer in en effort to calm the other boy. 'You're not out of control, Gabe. I swear to you. You are just protecting what's yours.'
Gabriel swallowed heavily. 'I remember a time at Arcadia when they sent us out into the mountains surrounding the school as part of Defence and Survival training. The entire class of ten went out and only six came back. I lost two of my best friends, one to a dragon and one to Fiendfyre that he just couldn't put out or out run. I watched him die, Draco, just twenty yards from me. I was so angry when I came back. I couldn't believe they had put us through that. But even then I was in control. I remembered I was a Snape and that I had a reputation to uphold. Why can't I do that now?'
Draco just stared at him. Gabriel hadn't said much about his time at Arcadia. Only that they learnt everything, even many lost branches of magic, and that it was a survival of the fittest sort of environment. It explained why they only took the best of the best. He highly doubted anyone at Hogwarts would have survived such an environment. He leant forward and placed a gentle kiss on Gabriel's lips. 'You can be like that. I know you can. You are strong, Gabriel. You know in your heart that I love you and that no one else matters. You are a Snape and you can always be in control if you want to.'
Gabriel closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around Draco's waist, pulling him close and burying his head in Draco's neck. 'I'll try.' He whispered.
Draco smiled and gently moving his fingers further back until he could softly run them through the thick black hair. Gabriel sighed heavily and they sat together in comfortable silence for the rest of the trip.
'I'll meet you straight after dinner. Severus has made sure our rooms are connected and has alerted Dumbledore to our situation.' Draco explained as he did up his Hogwarts robes.
'He didn't…'
Draco shook his head. 'No, he didn't tell him that. Just that we were bonded and, even though I'm still a student, under school by-laws we could now share quarters.'
Gabriel nodded and pulled Draco to him tightly. 'I'll miss you.' He breathed.
Draco chuckled. 'It's only for a few hours and I will be in the same room as you.'
'I know.' Gabriel sighed as he pulled away. 'I'm sure Father will keep my mind occupied.'
'I have faith in you.' Draco said softly and Gabriel smiled.
'For you.' He promised and gave Draco one last kiss before all but shoving him out of the compartment before he decided to spirit them both away for ever.
Once Draco was gone he pulled out his trunk and resized it. Reaching inside to pull out a particular set of robes and put them on. They were the darkest of grey with blood red runes embroidered around the edges and red silk lining. The cowl was thick and the sleeves cut at a sharp angle so the backs almost trailed the floor. Pleated tightly across the shoulders with more red silk throughout they swept around him in a manner that would have done his father proud and they were clasped together at the front with an enormous ruby. He couldn't restrain his smile at the thought of Dumbledore's face when he entered the hall.
Shrinking his belongings again he did the same with Draco's and put them in his pocket before slipping out of the compartment and off the train.
Gabriel stood at the gates and stared up at the castle. The students had gone inside some time before and Gabriel knew it was just about time. Not wanting to let too much out too soon he didn't apparate straight into the hall but instead set off on foot for the entrance doors he could see were still partly open.
Stepping inside he cold hear the last of the first years being sorted and quickly conjured small raven and sent it off towards his father.
He heard Dumbledore clear his throat and guessed his father had received the message.
'I know you're all hungry but I have one last introduction to make.' The headmaster's voice filtered through the large open doors. 'For the first time in over a hundred years, Hogwarts will be hosting an apprentice. Professor Snape's son Gabriel will be earning his Mastery under his esteemed father. He will assist in some of the potions classes so I'm sure you will all get to know him very well.'
Gabriel snorted. He highly doubted that.
'I ask you to make him welcome.' Dumbledore went on raising his hands and clapping loudly. There was further sporadic clapping throughout the room, mostly from the Slytherins, who hid their shock at their head of house actually having a son very well, and the first years.
Gabriel smirked inwardly but kept his face expressionless as he stepped into the great hall while reaching up to lower the hood of his cloak. The clapping completely died out as he swept slowly up the centre aisle towards the head table. He kept his eyes locked on the headmaster who was unable to hide his horror at the sight of a Necromancer's robes. Gabriel knew the headmaster would be well aware that the punishment for wearing such robes without the title of Master that went along with them. Death; as set out by the Necromancy Guild. He also knew the Headmaster had known his father long enough to know that he would not allow his son to complete an action so foolish and reckless.
Most of the students wouldn't have known what they were but the Professors sure did, and as Gabriel's gaze swept the table he had to stop himself from laughing out loud. His father also looked like he was struggling to hide his mirth. Those students that did know what the robes meant, most seemingly at one table, were being pestered by those around them who could quite clearly read the expressions on the faces of the faculty.
Gabriel looked towards his father as he rounded the end of the table clearly heading for the empty seat beside him. Severus stood as he stepped up beside him and both gave a small bow of their heads. Pureblood traditions were always in place in public. 'Was that Draco's idea?' He murmured, raising an eyebrow as he glanced down at the stunning robes his son was wearing.
Gabriel shook his head even as he mimicked the gesture. 'Mine actually.'
The edge of the potions master's mouth quirked. 'Entertaining.'
'Absolutely.' Gabriel smiled at him, much to the shock of those watching who had never seen a Snape smile before. 'You'll pay for it later though.' He added, nodding his head towards the headmaster who was still staring at him in horror.
Snape cocked his head to the side, which was the Snape gesture for a shrug. 'I doubt it. I doubt he'll want to get anywhere near me.'
There was a soft clearing of a throat nearby and the two Snape men glanced around to see a severe looking woman glaring at them, even if her eyes told a completely different story. 'If you gentlemen don't mind, there are almost four hundred hungry students waiting for their dinner.'
'Whenever you're ready, Minerva.' Severus waved dismissively at her as he and Gabriel took their seats. Minerva looked as if she was going to snap back at them but Dumbledore grabbed her arm.
'Let the feast begin.' He said quickly without all the usual fanfare.
The rumble of noise that began the moment the food appeared was muted as if most were too scared to say anything. There were a number of hissed conversations going on at the head table and any number of furtive looks in the Snapes' direction.
'How was the train?' Severus asked as he placed some roasted chicken on each of their plates, feeling the silencing spell Gabriel had instantly placed around them.
Gabriel sighed. 'I kind of lost it when some of Dray's friends came and joined us.' He admitted pausing momentarily as he reached for the basket of rolls.
'Miss Parkinson?'
'Yes.' Gabriel whispered. 'She wasn't pleased by what had occurred in the least.'
'She's always had a thing for Draco.' Severus told him as he filled each of their goblets.
'So I heard.' Gabriel muttered. Severus looked at him and noticed the thin line of his mouth, so much like his own when he was angry.
'I assume you set her straight.' Severus questioned.
Gabriel gave him a wicked smirk. 'As an arrow.' He murmured going back to his dinner. Severus glanced out at the tables, his eyes landing on his Slytherins, pleased to see that Draco had used his common sense and Pansy was sitting several seats down on the other side of the table.
'I gather also that she bears no mark from the confrontation.' The question was barely audible.
Gabriel looked up at his father in shock. 'Of course not.'
Severus raised an eyebrow. 'Then why are you avoiding looking at them?'
Gabriel looked down at his plate, idly toying with the stuffing by moving it through the gravy. 'It has nothing to do with Miss Parkinson.' He said quietly.
Severus remained silent, taking a mouthful of chicken and chewing slowly, knowing that his son would speak eventually.
'I'm struggling with letting Draco go.' Gabriel whispered. 'I know if I look at him I'll want to lay claim to him in front of everyone. And I don't think everyone is quite ready for that. I don't think I'm quite ready for that.'
Severs stilled his son's hand with his own. 'What do you think you would need to do?' He asked being deliberately cryptic. He knew this was a problem that would not go away. Something had to be done.
Gabriel glanced out over the hall, ignoring the stares his presence was drawing, making sure to bring his eyes back to his father's before he reached the Slytherin table. 'I don't know.' He said honestly.
Severus studied him in silence for a few moments. 'Do you think if you just completed a shortened and adapted form of the old pureblood greeting it would suffice? It should certainly let the rest of the school know that Draco is yours.'
Gabriel's eyes became distant as he went over the actions in his head. 'Maybe.'
Severus glanced down at the Slytherin Table to see that most of the students had finished and gave his godson a look. The young man reading the look easily and nodding in reply. 'I suggest you do it now.' He murmured.
Gabriel nodded and together the two men stood up. Gabriel bowed to his father, receiving one in reply. The students had quieted again at the sudden movement, most having never seen such strong pureblood traditions. Gabriel carried it further as he turned to Dumbledore, who, as the headmaster, was essentially the head of the table and gave him the same bow. He didn't wait for one in reply though, knowing it would be long in coming, instead moving out from the table and around the end, locking eyes with Draco. He felt his heart instantly lighten but his expression did not change as he swept down the side of the hall, robes billowing out behind him making his already incredible presence seem even larger.
He stopped when he reached where Draco who had turned in his seat to face him. Remembering all that had been drilled into him at Arcadia, he knelt on one knee and bowed his head, lifting it quickly and holding out his hand. Draco smiled and laid his in Gabriel's who brought it to his mouth and kissed it softly before standing and drawing Draco up with him.
Keeping Draco's hand within his own they headed towards the door and Gabriel struggled not to stop and catch the eyes of everyone in the hall to make sure they all understood what that entire exercise was about.
Draco squeezed his hand. 'Keep going.' He murmured. 'You're doing wonderfully.'
Gabriel grasped Draco's hand tightly and within another few moments they were outside the doors of the hall. Draco broke into a run, ignoring the explosion of noise behind them as he dragged Gabriel down deeper into the dungeons.
He stopped at his godfather's rooms, realising he didn't have the password. Gabriel seemed to sense the problem and placed his hand on the door, immediately cancelling the wards and allowing the door to click open. Draco yanked him into the room, looking for the door to Gabriel's but the other couldn't wait, slamming the door closed behind them and feeling the wards go back up as he all but threw Draco up against the door and kissed him hard.
'Only yours.' Draco gasped as Gabriel's sharp teeth scraped his neck.
'Mine.' Gabriel breathed before kissing across Draco's collarbone.
'Yes.' Draco whispered, allowing his robes to be pulled roughly off, his shirt following moments later.
Gabriel returned his mouth to Draco's even as he lifted him and carried him to the sofa and laid him down. 'I'm sorry.' Gabriel whispered as his teeth scraped Draco's neck once again.
'Don't be.' Draco gasped, closing his eyes and grabbing a tight hold of Gabriel's shoulders as the dark haired young man sunk his razor sharp teeth into the pale throat beneath him.
'I suppose it was too much to ask that you both were decent when I returned.' Severus murmured softly to his godson as he stepped into the kitchen an hour later. Draco was mixing himself a cup of cocoa, a pair of sweat pants hanging precariously low on his hips and nothing else. Gabriel was fast asleep on the sofa, a throw rug covering his middle with clearly nothing on underneath. 'Or that you actually made it to your room?'
Draco turned to face him, his silver eyes full of tears. Severus' eyes widened at the two small red marks on his neck.
'What on earth?' He gasped, reaching out to touch them.
Draco sighed. 'It's too hard for him here. We shouldn't have come.'
'Draco, what…'
The young man shook his head. 'It isn't his fault, there is nothing he can do. The feelings are so strong. We should have stayed away together.'
Severus placed a hand on his godson's shoulder. 'Did he hurt you, Draco?' He asked hesitantly.
Draco pulled away. 'No, of course not. He could never hurt me.' He insisted. 'You can't believe how hard this is for him.'
'Has he done this before?'
'Once.' Draco told him, picking up his cocoa and moving back out into the sitting room. 'The second time we went to Diagon Alley. It only seems to happen when he's feeling incredibly threatened.'
Draco sat down on the edge of the sofa and gently pushed the hair back off Gabriel's face. Severus watched as his son's eyes flickered open and caught Draco's. The emotion that quickly filled them had Severus wondering how on earth he could ever have thought his son would hurt Draco. Gabriel lifted a hand to cup Draco's cheek, gently running his thumb over the boy's red lips. 'Are you okay?' Gabriel asked huskily.
Draco nodded and smiled. 'More than okay.' He whispered. 'What about you?'
Gabriel didn't answer for a moment instead his hand trailed down till he could run his fingers over the two small puncture marks at the junction of Draco's neck. 'I have no control.'
Draco placed the mug down on the table and leant forward, wrapping his arms around Gabriel's chest and hugging him awkwardly. 'You do have control, Gabe. You let me sit for more than three hours in a hall with over four hundred people and when it became too much you didn't lose control, you made a stunning show of what a proud pureblood wizard you are and made sure that everyone knew I was yours and no one else's.' He said firmly as he sat up.
'I bit you.' Gabriel whispered sadly. 'I promised myself I wouldn't do that again.'
Draco shook his head. 'It is a part of you, Gabriel. It is a part of who and what you are. I told you last time it didn't matter and I'll tell you every time until you believe me.'
'Why don't you both get some rest…in your own bed.' Severus added quietly.
Draco nodded and stood up, pulling Gabriel up with him who clutched the rug to him tightly. As they headed towards the room Severus was pointing to the potions master grasped his son's arm and held him in place. 'You did well, son.'
Gabriel looked up at him and smiled.
'Each day will get easier as your soul learns that Draco is yours forever, no matter what.' Severus assured him.
Gabriel tilted his head and kissed his father's cheek. 'Goodnight.' He whispered.
'Goodnight.' Severus gave his arm a squeeze before releasing it and allowing the two boys to disappear into their room as he thought back to the rather violent conversation he just had with the rest of the staff. He'd been quite glad Gabriel had missed it actually.
Flashback
The headmaster had been livid. 'How dare you let a menace like that into my school!' He had yelled, once all the students had left the great hall and he'd cast locking and silencing charms. Most of the staff looked surprisingly unsurprised to see the headmaster raising his voice in regard to this issue. 'He's a dark wizard and he should be locked up.'
Severus had folded his arms over his chest and raised an eyebrow. 'I thought you wanted him to help you with your little problem.' He said openly, wanting to get this conversation turned around quickly.
'What problem?' Dumbledore snapped back.
'Your missing saviour and a certain Dark Lord.' Severus said bluntly staring into the fuming blue eyes.
'Help us? He'd probably set demons on us to prove his loyalty to You-Know-Who.' Minerva spoke up bravely.
Severus snorted loudly. 'I can assure you that loyal to the Dark Lord is the last thing Gabriel would be.'
'How can you be so sure?' Flitwick squeaked. 'He's a Necromancer.'
Severus walked down the few steps and leant against the end of the Slytherin table, off to one side in an effort to curb the feeling of being in front of a firing squad. 'Because he's an Arcadian. And they are loyal to none but their own.'
This particular comment floored the entire room bar Dumbledore who tried to carry on the fight. It died off quickly however at Severus' words as most of the staff began whispering together.
'What other Masteries does your son have, Severus?' Dumbledore demanded eventually, knowing that if Gabriel was a Master of Necromancy then his other Masteries would undoubtedly also be dark.
Severus stared at each one in turn. 'I don't believe myself to be at liberty to say.' He said honestly. 'That is Gabriel's decision if he wishes to reveal that to you.'
'Liberty?' Dumbledore threw his hands up incredulously.
'How old is your son, Severus?' Amelia Vector asked curiously, ignoring the flailing arms of the headmaster.
'My son is seventeen.' He said quietly waiting for them all to do the math.
'Impossible.' Minerva snapped.
'Wait!' Surprisingly it was Poppy Pomfrey's voice that rang out over all the others. 'Why don't we let Severus tell us what he can.'
Several cries of hear, hear sounded out and the potions master realised that this might be the best way to let everyone know about his son.
He gestured for the all to sit back down and began the story. Not the real one of course. Half an hour later he had finished and he could see them all thinking carefully about what he'd said. Dumbledore was sitting at one end of the table silently seething.
'How on earth could he graduate Arcadia in six years?' Poppy asked the question they all wanted an answer to.
Severus sighed. 'Arcadia is a very secretive school. Their curriculum is like no other. My son is powerful, intelligent and very, very good at what he does. He quickly excelled in all of his subjects from the day he arrived. It is not unheard of for a student with his abilities to graduate early.'
'Yes, a year early maybe, but not four.' Dumbledore muttered, obviously distressed now that he knew he had no chance of swaying Gabriel to his side.
'They are the best of the best.' Severus offered.
'How did he even get in to begin with?' Minerva sniffed.
Severus gave them all a small smile. 'I believe that is one Arcadia's most closely guarded secrets.'
'What was with that revolting display regarding Draco Malfoy?' Genevieve Wilson, the Muggle Studies professor sneered.
Severus raised an eyebrow and stared down his nose at her, quite an accomplishment considering he was three steps lower than her. 'I'm hardly surprised that you wouldn't know a pureblood greeting ritual if you fell over it. Even if it was adapted slightly.'
'Greeting? Don't they know each other?' Poppy's voice was more than curious and Severus glanced at Dumbledore.
'Oh, they know each other alright.' The headmaster muttered.
Severus allowed the corner of his mouth to twitch. 'Gabriel and Draco were bonded together over a month ago. Gabriel was just making sure that everyone was aware of it.'
'I still don't like it.' Wilson grumbled.
'Of course you don't.'
'Alright, that's enough.' Dumbledore snapped, finally getting up off his chair and looking around at them. 'We need to decide what to do about this.'
Severus pushed up off the table he'd been leaning on. 'I don't believe there is anything to decide, Albus. My son is here to gain a further Mastery, nothing more, nothing less. If you do decide that you don't wish to allow him to remain in the school then Gabriel, Draco and I will remove ourselves forthwith. I will give you the evening to think it over. Good night.' His piece said, Severus turned on his heel and swept from the hall much as his son had done just over an hour before.
End Flashback
Severus was partway through his third glass of scotch when he realised that sitting here wasn't going to make them reach their decision any faster. He hoped the threat of removing Draco also may give them pause, what with Lucius being a School Governor, but he couldn't get enough of a read on the room before he left. With a heavy sigh he levered himself out of the chair and downed the remainder in his glass before placing it down on the table.
He silently crossed the room and looked in on his boys, smiling as he saw them both fast asleep, tightly entwined together and looking so peaceful. He couldn't believe that anyone would think his beautiful son was anything but perfect. Standing there staring at him, he also couldn't believe where he was. For so many years he'd dreamed of having his son near him during the school year and now it was true. He would be damned if he let anything get in the way.
With that in mind he crossed the room and walked out the door, intent on finding the one person who could sway the rest of the staff to his side even without the help of the headmaster.