Hogsmead
Ron, Ginny and Hermione had already left for Hogsmead when Snape and Harriet met Draco in the entrance hall. Draco hadn't joined them at the Gryffindor table for breakfast and was just coming down the stairs as they exited the Great Hall. Draco wore black fitted trousers and a dark blue shirt under his black outer robe, which was fastened with a silver snake clasp under his chin. Snape felt slightly under dessed in muggle jeans and an 'English Quidditch' jumper. Harriet looked similarly uncomfortable in her baggy jeans and a waterproof jacket.
"Going somewhere special Draco?" Snape said with a small sneer.
"Dress to impress, you know." he said with a blush.
"Well I'm sure she'll be impressed if we see her." laughed Harriet as Draco brushed an imaginary speck of lint from his robes, trying to look dignified.
"Well, if you don't mind being seen with two such scruffy individuals," Snape said with a sarcastic bow, "may I suggest we get going?"
"I'm sure my reputation will not suffer." Draco drawled, Harriet recognised it as his defence when he was feeling awkward.
"When you two have removed your pureblood sticks from your arses can we leave already?" Harriet said, casually looping an arm around each of their waists and steering them towards the queue of students heading for Hogsmead.
Draco and Snape both stiffened slightly at the familiarity of the gesture, but after exchanging a brief glance they relaxed and threw their inside arms over Harriet's shoulders. They walked down the lane to Hogsmead in this fashion, laughing and jostling each other until they reached Honeyduke's. Harriet and Draco went crazy inside buying bags of sweets while Snape waited outside browsing through shop windows. He noticed a new shop opposite Honeyduke's and crossed to peer through the window. An assortment of magical items and jewellery decorated the display window, resting on discreet black velvet cushions. Snape marveled at the craftsmanship and intricacies of these creations, until he spotted a decorative glass vial in the near corner. He crouched down to examine it more closely.
It was about the size of a snitch, made of white glass with flecks of gold, in the shape of a teardrop. The stopper was not glass but appeared to be made of pure flame. The golden and red light flickered and wavered as he stared. He examined the small label below which read 'pure phoenix tears', there was no price tag. Snape knew that was because anyone who was in the market for a vial of phoenix tears already knew how rare and expensive they were. He allowed himself a moment to imagine how it would feel to own such a beautiful and powerful potions ingredient before regretfully straightening up.
"That's pretty," said Harriet from behind him.
He looked at the item she was pointing at in the window. It was a necklace with a pendant shaped like a lightning bolt. The label proclaimed it to be a safe passage charm. This was a type of portkey that would activate in an emergency to transport the wearer to the location they felt safest. Often they were activated by a password or code which could be set by the owner. They were extremely powerful and could transport through wards and protective spells, even protecting the person from minor spells and jinxes.
"As always you are the master of understatement Miss Potter." said Snape with a smile, "While I agree with you that it is 'pretty'," he shook his head, "it is also an extremely intricate piece of magic."
"She's right you know," Draco said from behind Harriet, "you really do have a rod up your arse."
Snape pursed his lips and glared imperiously at him as Harriet burst out laughing. His look of distain wavered as Draco joined in the laughter, before sliding from his face completely as he began to laugh with them.
"Fine," he said with a smile, "how about we go to the Three Broomsticks for a few drinks?"
"Great idea," said Harriet, "a firewhiskey will stop you both doing the whole pureblood thing for a while."
"I beg to differ dear girl," Draco drawled with mock seriousness, "a true pureblood heir can maintain dacorum even when completely rat-arsed." He giggled like a schoolgirl as she gave him a shove and he ran towards the Three Broomsticks.
"What has got into him?" Snape wondered aloud.
"I told him to go easy on the Cheering Chews." laughed Harriet, "Come on Ev, let's go catch him up before he buys the whole pub a round."
"Draco, buy a round?" Snape sniped good naturedly, "This I must see."
XXXXXX
A Firewhiskey and several Butterbeers later Draco's cheering chew had most definitely worn off. He swirled the remaining Butterbeer around his glass staring into it moodily.
"It just slipped out," he was telling them, "as soon as I said it I knew she would be furious with me. I just got so angry with him."
"Only fools let their emotions cloud their judgement." Snape sighed, "You should learn to hold your tongue."
"It's not a silly obsession," Draco continued, as if he hadn't heard, "I got to know who she was. Not like the crush I had on Potter, that was based on the feeling of owing her my life or something. It was a real friendship, it could have been more, but I'm such an idiot."
"Wait what?" Harriet said, before Severus hushed her.
"She was the first person who ever liked the person I was and not my wealth, or bloodline or any of the other useless stuff." Draco rambled, stewing in his own misery and oblivious to his audience. "I just need to find a way to say sorry."
"You could try just apologising." Snape muttered.
"Who knows when I'll get the chance." Malfoy moaned, quite lost in his own voice.
"Erm, you could try now." Harriet piped up, as Ginny walked into the pub with Ron and Hermione.
"Oh shit!" said Draco, his face turning pink as he locked eyes with Ginny.
"I'm not staying if they're here." Ron complained in a loud voice, glaring at the three of them. He turned on his heel and swept out, leaving Ginny and Hermione to follow apologetically in his wake.
"Wait!" shouted Draco, jumping up from his seat and chasing after them.
Snape rolled his eyes and got up, gesturing Harriet to follow him outside. Once outside they saw Ron and Draco toe to toe shouting at each other.
"Stop!" shouted Harriet, running up to them with her wand drawn. "Both of you just stop this!"
"Draco!" yelled Snape, "Enough!"
"Stay the fuck away from my sister Death Eater!" Ron was snarling, "Or I swear I will curse your head off."
Ron pushed Draco in his chest and Draco landed heavily on his back. Ron took a step towards him and Snape, Hermione and Harriet all grabbed him and pushed him backwards. Ginny stood helplessly to one side, torn between her brother and Draco. All of them were shouting over each other, attracting attention from passers-by and fellow students alike, and Draco was struggling to his feet. He looked at where Ginny stood.
She was near the mouth of a dark alleyway between two shops. Partially covering the entrance to the alleyway was a large bin, its bulk casting an even darker shadow behind it. Draco's attention was drawn to a movement in the shadows and he stared into the alley trying to spot its origin. His heart leapt into his throat as he saw a pair of yellow eyes glowing behind the bin.
"Ginny, look out!" he shouted and began to run towards her.
It felt like time slowed down, as he ran the shadowy figure leapt gracefully over the bin and landed on the pavement. Draco watched the transformation from human to wolf mid-leap, realising it was Fenrir Greyback, and the horror in his stomach solidified. He saw claws extended and mouth open, baring vicious teeth, and aiming for Ginny's throat. He screamed as he reached for Ginny, fearing he would be too late. A split second before those razor sharp teeth closed Draco got a hand to Ginny and pushed her clear. He saw the jaw clamp onto his wrist and watched with detatched interest as the teeth tore through flesh and muscle, he felt no pain yet, but he was aware of screaming and flashes of spells around him. He felt a pull on his arm and felt claws drag down his chest and abdomen, ripping at his clothes and skin. He found himself on the floor, blood pooling around him, warm and sticky. A heavy weight crashed against him pushing the air out of his lungs and making his vision dark. Everything seemed to be getting further away and the bangs and screams grew quieter. The teeth disappeared from around his wrist and he felt a burning sensation. As unconsciousness claimed him, the last thing to cross his mind was Ginny. 'Please let her be safe'.
XXXXXX
Snape had frozen with fear when he turned from restraining Ron and found Greyback attacking Ginny and Draco. For one helpless moment he was back in the Shrieking Shack, aged fifteen and cowering at the sight of the beast Lupin became. He felt the terror threatening to unhinge him and wand slipped in his sweaty hand as panic overwhelmed him.
He felt anger rushing up to swallow the fear and gripped his wand tighter as he cast a hex at the werewolf. In his peripheral vision he saw Harriet, Ron and Hermione in fighting stances next to him. He vaguely registered teachers and residents of Hogsmead running towards the commotion, wands out. He thought there were a few aurors in the group, but he didn't wait to see. He shot a stunning spell at Greyback, one of many from various sources, and watched as it sailed over his head. He now had Draco on the floor screaming. Snape cast again, watching the curse hit and Greyback let go. Greyback was thrown into the shadows in the alleyway and rolled out of sight.
Snape ran towards Draco without thinking of the danger. Draco wasn't moving now. He threw himself beside him, kneeling in the hot blood and putting his head to Draco's mouth to listen for his breathing. A faint breath. He checked the wounds to see if he could staunch the bleeding. A deep gash in Draco's chest pumped out more blood and Snape pressed his hand to it to slow the blood loss. He heard shouting in the distance as people searched for Greyback and called for a healer, he couldn't afford to notice them. He began to chant a healing spell, pointing his wand at Draco's wounds, trying to knit the skin back together. He felt the flow slowing down, but the skin was not mending as well as it should. His magic was still not under his control enough for him to fully perform this spell and it made him so frustrated. He felt a hand on his shoulder and then Madam Pomfrey was somehow next to him. She joined his chant and the wounds closed, but Draco's face was white and he didn't stir. Madam Pomfrey quickly arranged for him to be taken back to the castle where he could be given blood replenishing potion and his wounds tended urgently. Severus collapsed backwards in exhaustion. He felt hands lifting him to his feet and he let them. When he looked it was Harriet, Ron and Hermione, supporting him and protecting him with grim and shocked expressions. He looked down at his clothes. He was drenched in blood, Draco's blood.