Of Secrets and Deceptions
Chapter Nine: Group happenings
By the end of the day Severus was unendurable, even Draco and the others of his house were trying to avoid gaining his attention, at first it had mostly been directed at Harry but for the last twenty minutes or so it had been silent. They were still in groups but now Lucius and Narcissa had switched so Lucius could offer support to his brother. The two ex-Slytherins had long since moved their group to the other side of the room almost out of sight to the group Sirius led, despite not being able to see them, every so often Harry would glance over in their direction; Severus caught him several times, the result was now a very annoyed and therefore snarky potions Master and a very defensive and irritated teen. Lucius and Draco met eyes and glanced at Harry who was once again looking longingly in the direction of his 'godfathers' group. They couldn't really blame him, no one on the group seemed to be communicating well. They had tried for a while but Harry had wanted to be with his Siri and Sev was now hurting. When Sev hurt, everybody suffered.
Harry turned his head as he heard his godfather laugh; he looked in the direction he knew his group was trying to work out why he was here instead of with Sirius. Ron and Mia (Hermione) were both with him but Harry was not. Instead he was on the other side of the room, with Both Malfoys and the dungeon bat. Wonderful. Draco wasn't so bad but his father and the potions Master was a bit much. The senior Malfoy kept watching him and the Potions Master was constantly focusing each question on him. Added to that, the only other Gryffindors in the group were Neville -who was too scared to speak,- and Seamus who was by now glared down by Severus. Harry let out a sigh and turned back to the group. Severus met his eyes obviously furious; Harry shifted back a little taken aback at the expression. He hadn't been paying attention but jeesh. He looked down, trying to avoid an altercation, after the dreams the night before he couldn't deal with Severus's trash. But no, he couldn't let it pass. "Mr Potter, perhaps you would like to comment." He said glaring. Harry simply shook his head and kept looking at the ground.
Lucius shook his head trying to convince Severus not to continue, the other man paid no attention. "Mr Potter, perhaps you could repeat what was last said." He said knowing full well Harry hadn't been paying attention. Harry simply shook his head still not looking up, he failed to see the look pass between Draco and Lucius as they knew what was to follow. "Well Mr Potter I suggest you pay attention rather than staring blandly at the Mutt... unless of course you desire to become just like him?" The last part was disguised as a question but obviously wasn't. Lucius closed his eyes and waited for the obvious reaction. Harry didn't disappoint.
"I can think of worse people to be like. At least he doesn't need to hide behind his friends." Was his response, Draco and Lucius knew what he was referring to, Severus had told them about Harry's trip into his pensive. Severus didn't really mind, they were memories he had shown Draco when he was explaining his dislike for Harry- something Draco now knew was false. But as far as Harry knew they were memories Severus despised that he was furious Harry had seen. Both Malfoy's knew that Severus was going to be angry and say something he was going to regret. Lucius tried to catch his eyes but was unsuccessful.
"Yes, I can see he and the werewolf have taught you well, I can't imagine why they are unable to obtain custody. You can consider yourself lucky I am as yet unable to deduct house points or Gryffindor would already be in the negative but I am sure I will be able to find some cauldrons for you to scrub for the next week." He sneered at the teen; Harry however hadn't heard the last parts of the man's rant. All he heard was the part about custody.
He was shocked. Siri and Remy hadn't told him that... were they unable to obtain custody of him? Would he really have to go back? After this last summer he needed to know he didn't have to go back. He began to panic; he had to get away from this situation, to talk to his godfathers to have them tell him it wasn't true. It couldn't be true Severus just wanted to get at him. If Remus and Sirius had been unable to win custody he would have told him right? He looked back at the cruel potions master's face as these thoughts raced through his mind, he could see the truth behind the words and that was what caused him to stand and before either man could react Harry had left the group and entered the dorms closing the door behind him.
LUCIUS POV
Lucius closed his eyes as his youngest son left the room. He wasn't angry at Severus and a quick glance at Draco showed he wasn't either, they had both seen the pain in Severus's eyes that they knew had been building up all day. Harry had unknowingly hurt Severus; he then said what he had in an attempt to hurt him more. Severus had provoked it by insulting the people he considered his god parents but that had been in pain at not being the one Harry wanted to be with. I had caused Severus pain when Harry had obviously disliked him, he had loved him since he was born, had promised to always be there for him as he had with Draco the fact that he could not had always upset him, then when Harry arrived at Hogwarts he had still not been able to take care of him, he heard Harry had suspected him of being the one after him in his first year and since then he had always just been the cruel potions professor. But now things could change now Harry could know they were his family, Sev had told him that Sirius and Remus had been unable to get custody and it was true they had not. Narcissa had used the real birth certificate to prevent it. As long as they blocked them they would have a chance to slowly convince Harry it was best for him to be with them. Once they got him close enough they could take him to meet Tom it would all work out. I looked over to my wife asking who should go talk to our son and she indicated that she would I stood about to go relieve her when the Wolfs and his group stood they walked over to his mates group and he walked over to the dormitories. As he entered I glanced over to Narcissa and raised an eyebrow. Hers rose in response and I walked over to join her leaving Draco to reassure Severus. He was better for it anyway.
