Lord of the Manor

"Hello, Lucius," said Narcissa, holding her hands out and studying his eyes closely.

She was lovelier than ever, he thought as old, old emotions welled up in him. Without taking his eyes off her face, he grasped her hands, kissing first one and then the other.

"Narcissa," he whispered, feeling suddenly hesitant as he recalled his unkempt condition.

She put a hand to his hollow cheek, looking shocked and concerned at his condition. When he swept her into his arms, pulling her tight against his gaunt body, some of the rage and tension eased in him and he shuddered. The Strengthening Solution was wearing off rapidly and his body sagged slightly.

"Come inside," she said quickly, slipping an arm around his shoulders and supporting him.

Dazed, Lucius allowed it. Narcissa was the weak one, the dependent one, he thought, even as she capably assisted him over the threshold.

"Come upstairs to get cleaned up," she murmured, assisting him toward the stairs. She threw one pleading glance at Draco and Severus before helping her husband up the stairs.

Draco looked cautiously at his former teacher.

"I feel like I'm twelve years old," he muttered. "Remind me that I'm a grown man."

"He was shocked that you're no longer a child," said Severus dryly. "Shocked that your mother didn't swoon like a ninny at the sight of him. He has many shocks ahead."

"I wish I didn't have to tell him about Vic and Alys. I wish he wouldn't want to see them, and most of all, I wish he didn't have a new wand," snapped Draco.

"There's no way you could have stopped him," replied Severus mildly. "He has the right, and you know how he craves control. Especially after Azkaban."

Draco shuddered. He was not sure if Lucius knew, but both he and Professor Snape had been imprisoned in Azkaban for a time after the defeat of Voldemort. It was a terrible place, as they both knew.

"I should help my mother. Will you wait for us?"

"Of course," Severus said, although he longed to be at home with his family.

Draco left the room, while Severus pondered Lucius's future in a world free of Death Eaters and Voldemort. He had known Lucius Malfoy since his first day at Hogwarts and had admired the older Slytherin, who was everything he'd longed to be. Rich, suave, handsome and pure-blooded, Lucius was like wizard royalty. Severus sneered, remembering his scrubby, desperate self at eleven. Once he had seen Lily's fascination with James Potter, another rich pure-blood, he longed to be like Malfoy even more. What a fool he had been, ready to follow wherever Lucius led.

"Severus?"

Narcissa appeared, rousing him from his useless musings.

"How is he?" he asked.

"We've put him to bed. He's feverish and terribly thin. Draco will be down soon and I hope you'll stay to dine."

He studied this woman who had shared his time at Hogwarts. She was confident in a way that surprised him. During the years Voldemort consumed her husband's loyalty and attention, she had been thin and nervy, jumping at any sound and terrified for Draco's safety.

"You look well, Narcissa," he told her. "Can you stand up for yourself? Draco is worried, and I know Lucius too well to believe he'll adapt easily to this new world of ours."

She shrugged. "I can only do my best," she replied. "He'll be furious when he's well enough to understand, but he's my husband. It wasn't always horrible between us, you know."

Silence fell as they each became lost in memory, but Narcissa was finally recalled to the duties of a hostess.

"I hope Mrs. Snape and your children are well," she said dutifully. "Um… Lucius doesn't know about them, does he?"

"Not unless someone in Azkaban told him. I prefer that he not know of their existence yet. He's going to be very bitter," said Severus grimly.

She nodded. "Draco is afraid for Victoria and Alys. I'll miss them terribly, but he's right to be cautious. I don't know if Lucius can ever overcome the blood prejudice he's held his whole life."

"Not even for his granddaughter?"

Tears came to her blue eyes. "I believed it so long, I know how it was for me, and it's worse for Lucius. I had Nymphadora and the mediwitches at St. Mungo's. They saved my sanity, Severus, but Lucius would never go for counseling and he doesn't want to change!"

Only his fear that he might harm his wife during a flashback had driven Severus to counseling, and only to his trusted friend Michael. It was regrettable that Lucius would not consider it, but Narcissa was right.

"Are we ready to eat?" asked Draco, entering the drawing room hastily. "He's asleep, Mother."

Narcissa led them to the dining room, where an elaborate dinner waited in magical warming trays.

"I wished Lucius could eat something. He seems to have starved himself while he was… there," she said, gesturing them to be seated.

"During my time in Azkaban, I learned how foul food could be," Severus told her. "I'm not surprised he looks starved, although we've been told conditions have improved since then."

"I forgot you were there too," she said. "And my poor Draco."

"Your poor Draco's a lucky guy," said her son, smiling fondly at her. "I wouldn't change a bloody thing that happened to me since that night on the Astronomy Tower."

The meal was delicious, cooked by his mother, and he was proud of how she had learned to care for herself. She had loved him for his entire life and she loved Vic and her granddaughter dearly. Draco hoped Lucius wouldn't destroy their family.

"I must go," said Severus at the close of the meal. "Please call on me if I can help, Narcissa."

She blushed and said wryly, "You saved my Draco's life. How can I ask more of you?"

"Because I'm offering," he said irritably. "We all played our part in the Dark Lord's mad game. I hope we can make the best of our lives in spite of it. Don't let Lucius push you beyond what you can bear."

Narcissa's eyes lit with playfulness, a sight that startled him. "Go home to your wife, Severus, and have a good evening. We're grateful for your assistance."

"I'll walk you out," offered Draco, knowing how anxious he must be to return to Zelda. "I'll be right back, Mother."

They walked slowly to the door. As Severus put on his cloak, he paused.

"Will you stay here tonight?" he asked.

"Tonight and for the next few days, until I know how Lucius will jump," replied Draco with a scowl. "You're lucky to be able to go home to your family."

"I know it," murmured Severus, a rare smile transforming his harsh features. "But this will pass and you'll be with them soon."

"Vic and I can manage, but I grudge every hour I'm forced to be away from my brilliant child."

Severus nodded in sympathy, pleased to see the young man's devotion to his family.

"Shall I come tomorrow?"

"Can you be away from Hogwarts?" asked Draco.

"Yes. Professor McGonagall has covered my job until I can return. I am at your disposal for the nonce."

"I should contact Michael and the others too. I didn't expect Lucius to be so broken," said Draco, his brow furrowed. "I'll send an owl to Mike now, and to Crabbe and Goyle. I can't sleep yet."

"Victoria must be waiting to hear from you," suggested Severus, his eyes gleaming. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Draco watched the familiar black-cloaked figure stride away from the house and Apparate away. He felt hollow, realizing how much he depended on his old Head. There were few people who knew what his family was, who knew the history. There was only one he trusted to help them survive Lucius's adjustment to freedom.

&&&&&&&&&

"Good night, Daddy," Emmie murmured in his ear, hugging him fiercely. "Will you be home for supper tomorrow?"

"I have an important job to do, so I don't know, my demanding child."

Severus held her a moment longer before releasing her and watching her go upstairs. He turned to Zelda, scowling.

"Is there anything you need to do tonight or shall I rub your back for you? It's been a rough day, I think," she told him.

He looked around him. The cottage was organized, the cats and Rowena were enjoying the last coals of the fire. It was most soothing.

"Bed," he told her, his eyes lighting with relief. "I missed you today."

Companionably they went upstairs to their room. As he removed his shirt, Zelda ran an exploring hand over his spine, feeling rigid muscles.

"Poor Severus, you're so tense," she purred, slipping on a silky green nightgown. "Lie down, love."

He finished undressing and obeyed her, allowing himself to relax as her hands massaged his lower back. The day had brought back memories long forgotten, of the world of his childhood and the people who had lived in it. It was unsettling.

"You don't have to talk about it, but I'm here," Zelda told him gently, continuing to rub his back.

He closed his eyes and saw Lucius's gaunt face in his mind. "I've never seen Lucius so fragile before. I don't doubt he'll recover his arrogance with his physical health, but it was shocking. Draco is staying there tonight. Luckily he has enough Healer training that he can handle things."

"The last time Draco saw his father he was a teenager," mused Zelda. "Is he okay?"

"Draco is twice the man Lucius ever was," snapped Severus. "I wish Lucius respected him, but he'll likely try to break Draco to his will as he did when Draco was a child."

"He can't, right?"

"I don't believe so. As a child, Draco had no one else to turn to. Now he has Victoria, and he has Michael and Kingsley. Those two did more to teach Draco to be a man than Lucius ever could."

"How early will you go back?" asked Zelda wistfully. "I missed having lunch together yesterday. Emmie did too."

Severus rolled over and scooped her onto his chest, smirking.

"Did you miss your greasy pauper of a husband?" he asked sardonically.

"I missed my gorgeous, heroic stallion of a husband," she corrected, frowning. "I'm sorry you had so little self-esteem as a student, my dunderhead, but you know better now. Don't you dare regress on me!"

He studied her, amusement glittering in his black eyes. It was ridiculous how wonderful she thought him, so he kissed her firmly.

"What a lovely, mad wife you are," he murmured, fingering the neckline of her nightgown. "Overdressed, however."

He Vanished her nightgown and laid her on the bed next to him, caressing her as he parted her legs.

"Better," he told her, making her laugh at his smug expression. "Now, how do you plan to pleasure me, my naked darling?"

Zelda laughed and said, "I'm more naked with you than any other time, and I feel so vulnerable and naughty. Mmm… I need to think…"

She rolled over on him, kissed him and rubbed luxuriantly. The she giggled and whispered in his ear.

"Sixty-nine?" she breathed, her eyes twinkling.

He smirked wickedly and the worries of the day receded. Lucius Malfoy in his heyday was a poor man compared with Severus Snape in this delightful hour.

&&&&&&&&&

"If you're not back in time, Hagrid will escort me back home this afternoon," said Zelda, kissing her husband's cheek. "You trust Harry to bring Emmie home, right?"

Severus nodded. "It may be late, but I'll send an owl when I'm able to," he told her, smacking her bum affectionately. "When this is all over, we'll find time for ourselves."

"We always do," she replied. "I love you, dear boy."

He kissed her forehead and departed, thinking grim thoughts about Lucius Malfoy as he walked down to the gates. He was still not thrilled to teach Potions, but it was a comfortable routine that was free of painful memories that contact with the Malfoys revived.

He Apparated to the gate of Malfoy Manor and prepared to walk to the house.

"Sev!" hissed a low voice from the shrubbery.

"Kingsley? You're ridiculous, lurking there," hissed Severus, rolling his eyes.

The handsome Auror stepped out of the bushes, saying, "The Ministry's having second thoughts about releasing them, but can't pull them back in without a reason. We had a report that Malfoy bought a new wand yesterday."

"What did they expect?" snapped Severus furiously. "We had no grounds to refuse him, did we? He's weak and ill. I thought conditions at Azkaban had improved!"

"I'm assigned to keep an eye on Lucius. Ron's covering Crabbe. There's something odd at the Ministry. I'm not a fan of sinister Lucius and his old cronies, but I wonder who's behind this release. Robards ordered me here. I know you must get up there, but can we meet later?"

Severus snorted. "I loathe intrigue. Come to the cottage tonight. If you send a Patronus I'll allow only you to pass my wards."

Kingsley grinned and muttered, "Mike too? He wants to see Zel and Emmie."

"Very well. Come at half past eight. Now, I must go."

"Contact me if Lucius tries to leave. Otherwise, I trust you to watch him. I'll slide back into MoM and see what I can learn," whispered the Auror. He Apparated away without another word.

Severus rolled his eyes in disbelief and headed for Malfoy Manor. It would likely be a long, revolting day.

&&&&&&&&&

Draco ushered him inside, taking his cloak and hanging it up. The younger man was haggard and scowled in response to Severus's piercing examination.

"He has nightmares and is still suffering from a prison fever. I owled Pye and he came earlier with potions. Father was… um, not grateful."

"Where is he now?" asked Severus.

"He's eating breakfast." Draco ushered the older wizard inside, looking relieved.

Lucius was seated at the breakfast table with a large pile of newspapers by his side and did not immediately notice his guest.

"Ridiculous! You cannot do all the work, Narcissa. We need a house elf," he proclaimed.

"Lucius, I've done it for years now. Am I terrible cook?" pouted Narcissa.

"It's fine… but that's beside the point. It's not fitting that my wife do household chores like a peasant."

"Good morning, Lucius. I'm pleased to see you looking better today," Severus said softly.

They gray eyes devoured his appearance alertly, although there was a fevered gleam in them. Lucius was skeletally thin, but his hair was clean and smooth again.

"Severus! I've had little time to speak with my family yet, but Narcissa told me you protected Draco while I was in prison. I wonder if this balances the fact that you betrayed the Dark Lord and your comrades."

Severus moved into the room nonchalantly. "I was not your comrade for many years. Instead I worked to preserve what I could from the predations of the Dark Lord. I was a pathetic young fool to join him, Lucius, and when I realized it, fortunate not to have shared Regulus's fate."

"Sit down, Severus," said Narcissa hastily. "Let me get you some breakfast."

Severus sat down, glancing at her anxious face. "Thank you, but I've eaten. Tea would be welcome."

She smiled gratefully and when she set his tea before him, he thanked her before returning his attention to his old schoolmate.

"The Dark Lord is long gone, Lucius, and our world is better for it. You have a much to learn after your long imprisonment, but Draco and Narcissa survived. You have your home and your life. If I can help you adjust, I'll do so."

"What can a half-blood pauper offer a Malfoy?" asked Lucius coolly.

"Perhaps nothing," replied Severus smoothly, realizing the old insults meant nothing now. "But the offer remains."

"Father, Professor Snape saved Mother and me when the Aurors and bloody Voldemort were all after us," snapped Draco. "Even bloody Aunt Bella wanted to kill us. If it were up to the Death Eaters, we'd have died painfully in 1997. We owe him everything!"

Lucius had flinched at the Dark Lord's name, and realized there were things he must learn. But a sweat broke out on his forehead and the first sign of chills returned. He refused to show weakness, however, merely nodding in response to Draco's words.

"Excuse me," he said, rising and heading for the door. "We'll continue this discussion later."

The remaining three stared at each other, wishing this could be over, but nothing was resolved and no end was in sight.