Chapter 4
"Whisky, Lucius? Normally you choose Brandy and it's not even dinner. Was seeing Severus really that awful?" Narcissa Malfoy entered her husband's private study and perched on the arm of his leather seat.
"It was difficult seeing him and knowing that if I had come clean to Dumbledore I could be free as well..." He closed his eyes and sighing leant his head back and his wife gently stroked some long blonde strands of hair back from his face. He turned his head to her palm and kissed it tenderly.
"And the potion?"
"He said it is old but would work as it was intended, a way to test it would be to take some of it and it would turn pink and fizz if it comes in contact with liquid hemlock and would turn blue against gold- so a galleon would do. I asked if I could make it and he said that Draco could or even Granger. So we'll get both to make it while we are in France if Severus doesn't acquit me for himself."
Kreacher knew something was wrong. Master Nasty Convict Traitor was happy, too happy. He was always running out or inviting the Nasty Potter Boy in and he didn't insult Kreacher as he once did (and that was strangest of all). The Potter Boy was different too, not only did he suddenly have his dead parents back, he acted differently, he felt different but also (Kreacher did not know how he knew) he also felt weaker.
Also Kreacher felt a waning compulsion to obey the Nasty Convict Traitor. He felt that someone somewhere usurped the Convict as head of the Black family, it was weak but it was there, he wasn't sure how he could tell or how that could work but it was there. Suddenly a new thought hit him- what if his new Master needed him but he couldn't go as neither knew the other? Kreacher was a bad elf for failing to know his Master. A call came. No, that was the Escaped Traitor from the Library his true Master wasn't completely revealed but as soon as they were then he could go and find them.
Harry collapsed into the chair in the corner of his room and sighed deeply, he was finished with his exams and tomorrow they would be off to France and would meet Ron and Hermione, he was excited but terrified- he hoped he wouldn't change much- it would be nice to actually have freedom with the Malfoy's. He was looking forward to a holiday outside the UK.
What would he look like? He guessed that Regulus would have looked similar to his brother, but Rosa? What did his mother look like? He would have to see if he could get access to his vault again and see if there were any personal effects he could take to France with him to look at and gain some knowledge of his parents.
He closed his eyes, fighting back tears. When he was younger he would have railed about how unfair life was but really he knew now that life threw many difficult things at people and the strong were those who worked with what they were given while the weak stopped and complained. Still it would have been nice to know what a real family was like, to be loved and protected... Harry suddenly sat up; the blood wards, would they really have worked? He threw himself to his feet and raced to the library.
The door was slammed open suddenly and extremely violently, a glass entered the room first only to smash against the corner of the desk, followed by and enraged blonde man followed by his sallow faced companion who-although he looked indifferent-was very confused.
"Lucius! What has got you so worked up?"
"Not my secret Severus. No really, I can't say." He held up a pale hand as his friend opened his mouth to protest.
"The news can't have been that terrible."
"You have no idea my friend."
Severus Snape was often called cruel and heartless both behind his back and to his face- his status as spy being announced hadn't really changed anything, and he would swear on Albus Dumbledore's love of sweet things, the way he taught wouldn't change. However Lucius Malfoy calling him a friend should have felt like an honour to have befriended a powerful man like that. No matter money or power- at one time it would have been. But he was a Death Eater, scum to the wizarding world and to him. Still Severus felt guilty that he threw it so casually back in his face- Severus had never had many friends and really, the ones who wanted him he should really try to keep.
He sat down in one of the high-backed chairs in front of Lucius' desk, watching his friend pace and thought back to the trial that morning.
Severus sat in his usual monochrome black, straight-backed and rigid on the hard bench of the courtroom. The seats were filled quickly and he was unsurprised when he saw that the reporters' gallery was full and more were trying to get in, this was the trial of Lucius Malfoy. Severus himself was given more than one wary glance and few seemed to want to pass him to fill the rest of the back bench he occupied, and he was content with that.
Finally silence was called for and Lucius took to the floor. Severus sneered as he noticed that his 'friend' swept in as though this was merely a business deal. Madam Amelia Bones sat sternly at the front of the jury, Dumbledore sat slightly further back but was still obvious in his florescent blue robes. Severus scowled, something about the word 'friend' set him on edge. After Lucius' visit he felt something like a traitor to their bond and yet hadn't it been Lucius who introduced him to the Dark Lord first? And Lucius knew he was a traitor to his Master and yet he still approached him for help. Something didn't add up.
There was a rustle of movement beside him in his dark corner; someone arriving late took the seat to his left. The sneer of displeasure to their close proximity fell as he realised that the person occupying the space was Narcissa Malfoy. Pale and shaking slightly she clutched a small white handkerchief tightly in her right hand which stood out against her dark green dress. To his eye he noticed small details of worry – a misplaced hair, distinct lack of eye makeup and to his surprise the handkerchief she clasped was damp. As the charges were read out to the court Narcissa glanced at Severus from the corner of her eye.
"Even though you are not here to support him," she murmured, "Lucius will be pleased to know you have attended."
"I am yet not convinced Lucius can be innocent or allowed loose without bribing someone. However he seems confident of his freedom." Severs replied and noticed the small smile on her lips that his words had brought.
"The guarantee for his freedom comes from an unexpected source." At his surprised look she lifted her chin to the courtroom. "They appear to be here. Can you not guess?"
Severus quickly glanced around the chamber it could be none of the Wizengamot, so his eyes turned to the public gallery and swiftly sifted through them. It took him hardly any time at all to find who Narcissa mentioned, for sitting surrounded by supporters was Harry Potter flanked by... here Severus did a double take, he could see on one side was James Potter and on the other Lily. Narcissa hummed lightly beside him and hearing the call for attention he wrenched his eyes away and forced his attention to his old friend's defence.
As they filed out of the courtroom many looks were thrown at the Boy-Who-Lived. Some were disgusted that someone as corrupt as Lucius Malfoy was cleared of all crimes and the Chosen One had a hand in it, others (very few of them) were grateful that an innocent man was let free. On his way down to Lucius with Narcissa, Severus ' quick eyes noticed the shocked looks on many of the faces surrounding Potter and that the boy himself looked surprised that he had given evidence but was attempting to hide it claiming to his friends 'it was the right thing to do'. Severus also noticed that the Granger girl was praising the boy going on about how wonderful it was that he was the 'bigger man and when did you do it?', 'how did you get the memories to Mr Malfoy', you have such a good heart' and 'why don't you go and talk to him'. At this last one the Saviour of the Wizarding world paled and told her that Mr Malfoy would probably want some time with family and turned to his parents to request that they leave immediately, because he turned away and did not pay attention to his friends he did not notice (as Severus did) the mischievous twinkle in the girl's eye of the fact that Mr Weasley had not turned red out of anger but because he was trying desperately not to laugh. As they left the courtroom as a large group the Malfoy's and Snape heard one of the Weasley's announce a party for Potter to 'celebrate that he didn't let our spies go to prison or die'- all three Potter's turned a sickly green colour at that announcement.
As soon as Severus reached Lucius and opened his mouth the blonde man held up a hand.
"All is forgiven my friend." The three of them began to leaven the chamber together when Lucius looked to his friend. "Would you like to come to the manor for a celebratory drink? Get you out of the party Molly Weasley is planning now?" Nodding his consent and hoping that he wasn't getting into anything dangerous he followed his friends out.
Lucius was still pacing and Severus was still confused when Draco entered frowning.
"There is nothing you can do father-"
"I can make his life bloody miserable that's what I can do!"
"Lucius!" Narcissa admonished entering, but even she, looking formidable, could not dissuade her husband from his pacing or his fuming.
"Look, there really is nothing you can do but help heal the emotional wounds left." Draco sighed. "I fear there will be a good many of those, but there is the possibility that a new body will help with the lack of scarring." Severus didn't like the sound of 'a new body' and shifted slightly in his seat drawing the room's attention to him.
Finally Lucius collapsed in his chair behind his desk and rubbed his eyes. "I'm sorry Severus. This isn't a new Dark Lord, and it isn't anything suspicious I swear. We're just trying to give someone a new chance of life," he laughed hollowly, "the only chance they've got." Severus nodded slowly.
"This is what you wanted the potion for; in case they wanted to change back?"
Lucius smiled. "Hmm. Something like that."
