"Normal speech"

Thoughts

"Mental speech"

"Non-English speech"

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. J.K. Rowling, her publishers, and Warner Brothers own Harry Potter.

Chapter 14

Hermione watched as Professor Snape gently eased Lucius Malfoy into the empty armchair in the sitting room and began a series of what Hermione recognized as diagnostic charms. What is Malfoy doing here? We're supposed to be safe!She struggled to remain calm. Malfoy is hurt.He might not know I'm here.

"Severus," Malfoy rasped, his normally smooth tones ragged with pain.

"Am I permitted to heal you?" Snape asked softly. Permitted?Why would the professor need permission?

"Yes."

Immediately, Snape cast a blood clotting spell, a bone-mending charm, and two other spells that Hermione did not recognize but memorized as being worth future study. He then pulled three potions out of a pocket (He must have an undetectable extension charm on it, Hermione realized), and handed them to Malfoy, who quickly drank their contents. Soon, Malfoy's color began to improve, although his face and clothes were still streaked with blood.

"I take it the raid did not go as planned?" Snape asked sardonically, taking a seat in the vacant armchair.

"Your skill at observation is unparalleled. I can see why the Dark Lord made you his spy." To Hermione's surprise, her professor chuckled drily.

"But yes, it was an utter disaster," Malfoy continued. "Black showed up almost immediately, rescued the mudblood and her parents. He killed Stebbins and Reynolds – slit their throats. Not that they didn't deserve it. Can you believe Black was hiding as a stray mutt the whole bloody time they were watching the house? Utterly incompetent. The Dark Lord was not pleased by our failure, as you can see." He gestured at himself.

"And so you came here," Snape remarked drily.

"Well, I could hardly go to St. Mungo's." Malfoy glanced down at himself and grimaced. Hermione stifled a shudder as he drew his wand, but it was only to cast a quick cleaning charm. The blood vanished from his face and robes. "I expect he'll summon you later," he added. Hermione was surprised to hear a faint trace of concern in the man's voice.

Snape nodded. "Most likely."

Hermione watched, fascinated, as the two men fell into a companionable silence. Finally, Lucius Malfoy broke it by laughing. "You are a terrible host, my friend." Snape raised an eyebrow as Malfoy rose and went to the kitchen. "Let's see if you have anything worth drinking in this pathetic excuse you call a house."

"Top shelf in the cupboard to the far right," Snape called, not bothering to follow him. How can Professor Snape be so at ease?Malfoy tried to kidnap me!He helped torture my parents!

Malfoy returned a minute later with a bottle of wine and two glasses. He poured a deep red liquid into each, and handed one to Snape. Malfoy swirled his glass, sniffed it, and then took a small sip. "An excellent vintage. My compliments."

Wait, this is Snape's house?

-DVDVDV-

With a laugh, Lucius Malfoy broke the companionable silence. "You are a terrible host, my friend." Severus raised an eyebrow as he rose and went to the kitchen. "Let's see if you have anything worth drinking in this pathetic excuse you call a house."

"Top shelf in the cupboard to the far right," Severus called, not bothering to follow him. Lucius quickly found a bottle of elf-made wine on the top shelf, and then rummaged around the tiny kitchen to find two glasses. Oh, Severus, why do you insist of living here?You deserve better than this muggle dunghill.Narcissa and I would be thrilled to let you stay at the manor, or even set you up with a cottage somewhere if such is your preference.

Lucius returned a minute later with a bottle of wine and two glasses. He poured a deep red liquid into each, and handed one to Severus. Lucius swirled his glass, sniffed it, and then took a small sip. "An excellent vintage. My compliments."

"It should be," Severus replied, sounding faintly amused. "You gave me the bottle."

Lucius considered this for a moment. "That would have been, what, four years ago? And the yet bottle has barely been touched," he chastised.

Severus shrugged slightly. "I am merely a social drinker, as you know." He sipped his wine.

Lucius snorted. "You are the least social person I know."

"And thus the mystery of the untouched bottle is solved." Lucius chuckled.

Silence fell again. Lucius then caught sight of an owl perched on one of the shelves. "A new pet?" He nodded in its direction. I thought you gave up on pets after Mister Norris experienced a "tragic accident" upon being introduced to your late, unlamented father.

"Hardly. I am simply to keep the wretched beast alive for a fortnight. The headmaster, in his infinite wisdom, believes that caring for an animal will awaken my dormant compassion and empathy."

Lucius chuckled. "You have my most sincere sympathies." He raised his glass in a toast. "To the loyal opposition. May they act as confunded as they appear." Severus raised his glass, and both sipped their wine.

"Speaking of whom, how is the Order faring these days?" Lucius asked.

"They are a runespoor missing the right head – able to plan and dream, but lacking any ability to think critically. Confunded does not begin to describe the magnitude of their incompetence."

Lucius chuckled. "That bad?"

"They gave two-to-one odds that you and I are engaged in a sordid affair," Severus replied drily.

Lucius made an exaggerated show of eying his friend's long, lean body. "Severus, you are a dear friend, but even with all the felix felicis in the world, you wouldn't get that lucky." And anyone who bothered to spend five minutes with you should realize that this armchair has more interest in sex than you do.

"Quite."

Lucius laughed, and Severus's lips twitched into a small, crooked smile. "Truly, though, with intelligence like that on their side, why have we yet to win the war?"

"Fortune favors the fool," Severus replied drily.

"And smiles on the brave. Thus is Gryffindor House protected," Lucius finished. He chuckled again. "Mind if I tell Narcissa about our supposed affair?" Merlin, but she needs a good excuse to laugh these days.

"I have no objection, provided she does not take it as another excuse to try matchmaking." Draco has brought so much joy to our lives.Narcissa just wants the same for you.

"Well, it might lead to a rise in dashing blond men being coincidentally invited to tea whenever you come to the manor." Lucius chuckled at Severus's glare. He raised his hands in a placating gesture. "She just wants you to be happy, Severus. You are, after all, a young and powerful wizard. Countless witches would be delighted to marry you."

Snape snorted. "Lucius, I am an ugly, antisocial workaholic."

"True, but when we met, you were an ugly, antisocial, impoverished workaholic. Your star is rising, my friend."

"Lucius –"

"Fine, fine. I will impress upon Narcissa your continued desire to remain unloved and alone. That said, will you be able to come over to the manor for dinner next week?"

"Of course."

Lucius smiled. "Excellent. As a warning, Narcissa will want to discuss possible potions apprenticeships for Draco with you." Lucius saw that Severus recognized the implicit question. Even here, safe from eavesdroppers, he could not risk asking directly. Will you protect Draco?

Severus paused, and then said slowly, "Draco lacks the intuitive grasp necessary to become a master of the art, although he certainly has the skill required to become a certified brewer. I believe that he would be better suited to focusing on his runic studies. Professor Babbling speaks quite highly of his abilities in her class, and, judging by the enhancements he added to the wards in his dormitory, he has the capacity to apply his knowledge creatively."

Lucius was silent for a moment, before commenting, "All of the best runic programs are based in Egypt." Studying ancient runes will get him out of the country, away from the Dark Lord and the pending war.

"And there is always a need for well-trained warders and ward-breakers." You can pitch this to the Dark Lord as sacrificing a decent duelist in the present for an exceptional curse-breaker in the future, Lucius translated.

Lucius nodded. "I believe that your suggestion has merit, and will raise it with Narcissa and Draco. Thank you, Severus." You may have saved my son.Snape inclined his head. "And now, I really should return home. Narcissa will be worried." She does not know if I survived the summons.

-DVDVDV-

Severus watched Lucius leave Spinners End. I will do whatever is in my power to save you, Lucius.You are my friend, the last of my friends.All of the others are dead.I will protect you and yours.

You have my word.

A/N: Please review!