Disclaimer: nothing is my own

Lucius' News

Chris was walking down the corridor towards transfiguration when he was stopped by the headmaster. It was the first day back in classes for the students, having returned from their holidays the day before.

"Mr. Snape? I was wondering if I might have a quick word?" He stepped to the side of the corridor to allow a crowd of Hufflepuff third years to pass.

"Of course sir," Chris stepped over to where Dumbledore stood; he had still not quite forgiven the Headmaster for his interference over Christmas. If he was honest with himself, he had enjoyed portraying the role of Harry Potter again; he could show everyone how much he had changed, but he had missed the carefree spirit that came with being Chris.

"I wanted to see how your first term here went, since I didn't get to see you over the holiday period. It was a shame you couldn't stay for Christmas, your housemates would have loved to introduce you to Harry Potter."

Chris could have laughed, he knew most of this conversation was a cover due to the other students milling around, but he got the underlying message. "I had a good holiday sir, despite having to miss the wedding; my mother's family wanted to spend some time with me, now that I am living with my father. Last term went very well; everyone's been friendly and welcoming. I have met Harry before, so it wasn't too bad."

"I thought it would be good for the community to see that Harry Potter is still there for them."

"I understand sir, "Chris smiled at the headmaster and leaned in closer so he could whisper to him, "and just because everything went well that night does not mean I forgive you for interfering. If Harry Potter wants to see the wizarding world and show them he is still alive," he took a pause allowing these words to sink in with the headmaster. "Then I will do it on my own terms. From now on Harry Potter is on sabbatical and Christopher Snape is in his place.

Chris turned away and resumed his walk to transfiguration before the headmaster could think of replying.

He slipped into the classroom with seconds to spare, earning a glare from Hermione, and sat down behind Draco and Blaise. Draco turned around and whispered to Chris before McGonagall started her lecture. "Where were you?"

"Dumbledore," he mouthed back at Draco, who just rolled his eyes and turned back to face the front. Blaise leaned over to whisper something into Draco's ear, and Chris could only imagine what they were discussing.

Halfway through the lesson there was a knock on the door. The Head Boy stuck his head round the door, "Excuse me Professor McGonagall, but Professor Snape would like to see Draco Malfoy in his office."

"Thank you, Mr. Charleston. Well Mr. Malfoy, what are you waiting for? Off you go, you wouldn't want to keep Professor Snape waiting now would you?"

Draco picked up his bag and slung it over his shoulder as he stood up. "What did you do?" Chris mouthed at him as he passed. Draco could only shrug at; he had no idea why he was needed.

Transfiguration seemed to drag by after Draco left, and Chris barely paid any attention to McGonagall's lecture. He was eager to find out what was going on; Draco was never withdrawn from class, especially by Snape, unless it was an extreme circumstance.

As soon as the bell rang for the end of class, Chris was out of the door as fast as he was able, quickly followed by Blaise. "What do you think is going on?"

"I have no idea," Chris said as they walked down the corridor towards the dungeons. "Something's not right though."

Blaise turned off as they reached the entrance to the Slytherin common room. "You will let us know when you do, or tell Draco to see us when he can."

"I will do," Chris replied smiling at Blaise. "Whatever Draco did will no doubt be round school by dinner time," he joked.

Blaise just rolled his eyes as Chris walked off.

Once Chris reached the door to his father's office, he hesitated before knocking. Was this something he should be interrupting; it could be something Draco did not want others knowing about. If something happened to Severus he would not want everyone knowing about it. Suddenly Chris' blood ran cold at the thought that something had happened to Lucius. He knocked harshly on the door, eager to know what was going on.

It was his father who answered the door, "Chris, come in, it would be best if you heard this for yourself," He opened the door fully to allow Chris to step into the room.

Draco was sat on the sofa; his eyes were red and puffy. Chris' eyes wandered around the room until they rested on the occupant of the armchair. Lucius sat there, looking haggard and clutching a glass of Brandy.

"What happened?" he asked looking between the three men.

Lucius looked up, "Narcissa and Bellatrix showed up at the ministry yesterday, they caused quite a bit of trouble. I'm happy to report my crazy sister-in-law is safely ensconced away in Azkaban awaiting the Dementor's kiss. You can be rest assured your Godfather's killer is now serving justice. As for Narcissa…" he broke off unable to continue.

Severus took up the mantle, for even Draco was unable to carry on. "Bellatrix was able to claim one last victim before her journey to the hallowed halls of Azkaban. Unfortunately her victim was not who she intended.

Chris suddenly realized why Draco had been withdrawn from class, why the mood in this room was somber and why his friend was upset. Despite her faults, and what hers and Lucius' feelings were for one another, Draco truly loved his mother. "She…Narcissa?" he questioned, not wanting to actually say the word.

Lucius nodded and indicated that Chris should come and sit with him. Once he was close enough, Lucius reached out and pulled him to sit on his knee, wrapping his arms around him as he did so, and burying his nose into Chris' dark locks.

"Bellatrix had been aiming for me, no doubt wanting to get rid of the traitor. For some reason Narcissa stepped in between, taking the curse for me, sacrificing herself. Because the killing curse is instantaneous, there was no chance to ask her why she had done it." Lucius said as he clutched onto Chris as if he were a lifeline.

Draco looked up for the first time. "It's kinda obvious really; you'd cut mother off from the estate. With your death she would not get anything, either way she was no better off and she chose the easy way out. It wasn't as self-sacrificing as you would assume, not in the altruistic sense anyway. Her motives were purely her own.

Chris frowned, "you really think your mother could be like that?" He asked. "Deep down there will have been some selfless reason for her doing what she did. She will have loved you, and couldn't bear to lose you, that Draco couldn't live without his father."

Lucius kissed Chris' temples. "You both could be right to some extent. Narcissa came back because she had run out of money, and was unable to access the vaults. She was prepared to go down fighting for them, which she did. However if I had been killed she would still not have been able to access them, they would have passed to Draco, she gave up whatever she had for the sake of someone else; pure and simple it was a sacrifice on her part." Lucius placed a hand on Chris' knee, "She freed me, and I no longer have to go through lengthy divorce proceedings. We can be free," he finished off with a whisper in Chris' ear.

It took a few moments for Chris to figure out what Lucius was talking about. The fact that Lucius and Narcissa had been going through difficulties in their relationship had not been widely known, no one had been aware that Narcissa had disappeared in order to protect her sister by hiding her away. If Lucius moved on with his relationship at this moment in time would people think he was disrespecting Narcissa's memory? They would also be confirming what Rita Skeeter wrote in the paper.

Chris pushed himself away from Lucius' embrace, without leaving the man's knee. He had to do this in a way that would not hurt him. "We can't; be free yet, I mean. Your wife has just died Lucius. No matter what your feelings towards her had been recently, you did love her at one point; she did give you a son. You have to be seen to be mourning her before you are seen with someone else."

"Seen with someone else? Who do you expect me to be seen with?" Lucius asked.

"You know what I mean. Besides, you were the one who taught me about funeral rights. After you have lost a loved one, you enter a period of mourning. It does vary depending on the individual, but it should occur. A widow is allowed up to two years to mourn her husband, and a husband can have up to a year, there is a minimum period of a month for both parties. There are no set periods for mourning the death of a parent, but generally a period of six months is standard and acceptable." He looked around at the gloomy faces and decided to try and lighten the mood. "I have heard that Harry Potter is available though if you're interested."

Chris watched as a genuine smile broke over Lucius' face as he burst out into laughter. At the same time Severus and Draco quietly slipped out of the room. "You're cheeky," Lucius said as he nuzzled at Chris' neck. "I'll agree to the period of mourning, but how long I choose is up to me, and if you don't like it, then I may take Mr. Potter up on his offer."

Chris rested his head on Lucius' shoulder as the older man held him close. "You will also be coming to the funeral with me. Not as Harry Potter, but as Chris. It will be a small private affair, friends and family, not like Nymphadora's wedding."

"Of course."