Chapter 37-Understandings
It was obvious to both men that Darco was in fear of his father. He had a furtiveness and reticence to say too much about his life, but what little he said was shocking enough to make the unspoken stories unspeakable. With carefully chosen questions and carefully modulated voice the Adult Snape was able to drag out bits and pieces of Draco's shattered existence, proving that the pampered prince was indeed an abused and lonely child, Living a sad and cold existence even with everything money could buy.
"I wish to restore the honour of my family name," Draco told Sirius as they took time before everyone gathered around, to create an understanding between them. " I know It will mean my being disowned and becoming as poor or poorer than a Weasley, but is it worth betraying Snape who is no longer an adult? I don't want to take the dark mark or follow the dark Lord. He paused as he felt two sets of eyes upon him. Sirius and the adult Snape where both listening to him, for the most part in silence as they knew he had to talk his way through his thoughts. "My life is over as a Malfoy, father will have me murdered for betraying his name and making him look bad in front of the Dark Lord.". He stopped talking for a minute then said softly with an anguished tone "Do you understand what I am saying?" Draco asked them with some confusion evident in his voice.
"Yes Draco, I believe we do have an understanding of what you mean." said the adult Snape firmly,. "You are not responsible for what happens to your father, he chose his course and he must live it. You have chosen yours and are now responsible for your own future."
"Now we have hashed things out a little I hope that we can get along with each other." Sirius told him. "Of course when the others leave for school you will not be going with them. He stopped a moment to observe Draco's response, "but I am sure that once everything is going a little more smoothly, the Headmaster will make sure you get your lessons."
"Yes, I understand Sirius." replied Draco as he wrapped his hands around his cup of chocolate and looked impassively towards the animagi who had allowed him sanctuary from his family. "You know, I don't think you are anything like my Aunt Bellatrix told me you were."
"Well that is something, then again I never thought I would see the day I would have a Malfoy sitting across from me in my home either." Sirius answered cautiously, as he had a good idea as to what she told her nephew. "I never thought we would have so much in common."
Draco was startled. "We do?"
"Yes Draco, both of us chose another path than the one our family had planned out for us.'" said Sirius.
Draco nodded as he acknowledged the one deciding factor that bound them, other than blood. "You ran away, just as I have done."
Sirius smirked, "Yes I guess I did at that. I never regretted it either."
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Soon after, everyone else arrived at 12 Grimmauld Place, The teens along with Severus were sent upstairs to unpack and get ready for supper. The boys stopped to look at the drawing room, which for once looked very inviting with the warm colours of Christmas covering it. Setting their belongings on the floor near the stairway, they looked all around the room.
"Sirius has been busy." Harry said with wonder as he looked over the room and its decorations.
"I suspect Mom had a lot to do with it too." Ron replied as the twins and Severus came in behind them.
"I think Sirius decorated the tree though, it has some Slytherin ornaments on it"
"They look pretty old, must have been in his family for years."
"The lions must be more recent, they are defiantly Gryffindor."
"I guess he put the old Slytherin ornaments on to please you Twerp." Harry said as he touched one of the ornaments carefully. It hissed at him and twisted its way down the silver staff it was wrapped around.
Severus bent down on his knees and looked up at the tree with dark wide eyes. He never saw such a tree before, at least none that he could remember. The trees at Hogwarts were more elegantly decorated; this one looked more like a child's tree.
"That is so sweet." Ginny gushed as she watched Severus touching the ornaments carefully, his eyes wide with wonder, as he gazed at the magical snow dusting the tree and the icicles that looked as if they formed naturally on the branches.
While the teens had fun watching the little boy inspect the tree, Sirius slipped into the room with Draco, who also looked around at the room. Draco had his arms crossed over in front of his chest, feeling a little nervous as to what everyone's reaction to his being there would be. He waited to see how long it would be before he was noticed.
"Wha-What are you doing here Draco?" Ron yelped when he turned around and looked slightly disturbed at seeing him in their midst.
Draco smirked as the other boys noticed him standing in the room watching them. Harry and the twins glanced at each other as they wondered why and how Draco came to be there.
"I think, I am watching a few Gryffindors and a little Slytherin around a rather interesting looking tree." drawled Draco as he scratched his ear. "Long time, no see squirt," He said as he looked down at the kneeling child near the tree.
"When did you get here?" asked Severus as he turned around and stood up. His dark eyes were glittering as he gazed up at the older boy.
"Gee whiz, I'd like to know how you got by your parents, did you loan him your invisibility cloak, Harry?" asked Ron as he was shocked at seeing the blond Slytherin at 12 Grimmauld Place.
"No Ron, Harry had nothing to do with me getting off the train, or bringing me here." Draco told them with amusement at Ron's dumbfounded looks ."Snape brought me here."
The boys looked at him as if he was losing his mind then they realized just who Draco was referring to.
"You mean Mad-eye's friend brought you here?" Ron said excitedly, "Did he tell you his real name?"
"He did." Draco told them with a smirk.
"He did?" asked an astonished Ron.
"Sure, he said his name was Severus Snape." Draco told them as the man himself came into the room.
Sirius and Draco l could barely contain the laughter that welled within when they witnessed the shocked look on the boys faces. The most priceless one was on the Twerps as he stared at his adult self.
"Everyone, I do believe you know Professor Severus Snape?" Sirius introduced the man while smirking, "He was most helpful in retrieving Draco for us."
"And all this time we thought the twerp was Severus Snape...the short version."
"Hey Twerp, It seems like you really have a problem."
Severus glanced over at the twins suspiciously. "Other than yourselves, what problem do I have?"
Severus stood up and walked over to where the larger version of himself stood looking very sternly down at him. He glared right back at the tall sullen man. His small face looked as antagonistic as the face of the man did.
Everyone watched the pair of them carefully as they studied each other. Their eyes were locked together, neither of them moved for what seemed like forever to the boys.
"It is rather weird to watch you pair trying to psyche each other out." mentioned Sirius jokingly as he looked from one to the other. "One would think you were related or something."
Severus finally won the contest. "Still very stubborn, ornery and annoying as ever, aren't you?" Asked the man whose eyebrows arched upwards as he looked down at the obstinate face. He then took another swig of the poly-juice potion and grimaced.
Severus smirked proudly as his eyes smoldered. He was a Slytherin!!! The man smirked back at the twerp.
Molly came in to tell everyone to get their behinds into the kitchen, supper was ready. "Even you Snape," she paused and smiled, "both Snapes, I don't want to hear any arguments." she said in a very determined way. Molly spotted the boys belongings from school still sitting at the bottom of the stairway. Slightly annoyed she put her hands on her hips and told them to first take the stuff upstairs to their rooms now, then come to the table.
The boys did just that, Draco helped the twerp take the trunk up to his room while the others took their stuff to their own rooms. He noticed a few side glances shot at him form the Weasley boys and Ginny. He suspected they had a lot of questions for him before they would actually accept his presence among them.
Percy was a little late for supper as he had been kept busy later than usual and walked into the kitchen with the Daily Prophet. He showed them the front page with several photos splashed across it. Draco's parents. Lucius and Narcissa were standing close to each other, his arms around her shoulders, her head leaning against his chest. He read the article accompanying the photos out aloud to everyone.
Malfoy Heir Vanishes From the Hogwarts Express
Son of Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy, vanished with no evidence of foul play being involved. Ministry Aurors where sent to the scene immediately on being contacted by Mr. Malfoy Sr. when he realized the boy was not on the train after a preliminary search by the conductor, station master and himself, found nothing to indicate he was ever aboard. Witnesses verified that the boy was on the train as it left Hogsmeade station.
Hogwarts students Gregory Goyle and Vincent Crabbe last saw their friend and fellow classmate Draco Malfoy, age fifteen, while leaving their compartment on the Hogwarts Express as it sat at platform nine and three- quarters
The platform has been sealed off as the investigation continues for the missing Heir. A reward of two hundred galleons is offered for information leading to knowledge as to how the boy vanished and his safe recovery
Sirius snorted, "Think it's a bit late to seal off the platform now."
"So it seems." Arthur agreed as he glanced over the photos in the paper then handed it over to Draco.
"I guess there will be a lot of witches and wizards on the lookout for you Draco." said Harry. "I hope the offer of a reward doesn't tempt anybody in the order to turn you over to your father."
Draco's eyebrows rose as he saw the photos and read the article. "I guess he doesn't think I'm worth that much."
"Two hundred galleons sounds like a lot to me." said Ron "But I wouldn't turn you in for it." he added hastily as he felt his mothers eyes on him. He ducked his head and began to stuff the last of his supper into his mouth as if he was afraid the plate would be yanked out from under his nose.
"I should hope not." Molly spoke out.Her eyes flashed with indignation. "The very idea." she snapped.
The adult Snape took the paper from Draco then suddenly felt a burning sensation in his left forearm. He let the paper drop as he pulled back the sleeve of his robe and exposed the dark mark that could be clearly seen as it writhed and swelled along his forearm. His agony was apparent to everyone as his face went pale then flushed with the throbbing pain.
After a few minutes the mark faded and the pain subsided. There was sweat beads forming acros the adult Snapes brow and through clenched teeth he said. "I guess the dark lord has read the Daily Prophet, and isn't too pleased."
At the same time Harry winced as his scar started to pain him. He hoped he would not draw attention as he looked down at his plate and shut his eyes. He concentrated on blocking the pain and clearing his mind. His arm ached from the cut that Wormtail had slashed into his arm to draw the blood that brought Voldemort back. He felt the eyes of the twerp switching from the adult Snape to him as he struggled. Eventually the pain faded and he opened his eyes.
Harry looked at the twerp who said not a word, but went back to eating his meal silently. Harry knew by the boys face that he was a little more perturbed than he let on.
Riddle House
"SSSSO Lucius, I find you without your son, have you hid him from me? I cannot believe that he could have vanished from the train as stated in the Daily Prophet. He must not have got on board in the first place.
"I have had verification from teachers and students that he did board the train at Hogsmeade."
"He must have left by another entrance before the train left the station."
"No sir, Crabbe and Goyle junior swear that he was behind them when they got off the train." Lucius protested slightly as he felt himself sweat with fear.
"A pair of bumbling fools like their fathers." hissed Voldemort. "I see a strange and disturbing pattern here. First my Potions Master disappears and reappears where he pleases yet does not come to me, and now your son has refused to take my mark." His red eyes bulged a little more as he snarled. "There have been some most
Interesting stories I have heard about your son, Lucius, his saving the child I assigned him to kill, not once but twice. It makes me wonder where your loyalties lie when you cannot control your son." He raised his wand and pointing it at Lucius, yelled "Crucio"
Lucius was unable to keep from screaming with the excruciating pain that struck him for almost a minute, which felt longer to him. Voldemort stopped and with a snort of disgust, kicked him and left him to drag himself back to the line of terrified followers standing just a few feet away.
12 Grimmauld Place
Arthur sat silently in hopes that Molly would ignore his presence as she requested Severus and the twins to come with her to the drawing room for a 'talk'. Harry, Ron and Ginny shivered also as they thought the boys were going to get tongue lashed for all the pranks that they had created and used at school. Draco imperceptivity stiffened himself in fear even though he was not involved, at least in creating the pranks.
So how was the trip home Bill? Asked Percy who looked over at the closed door where Molly had marched the three boys out for a 'small' talk about inventing the candy kits.
"Don't ask." his brother muttered as he hugged the hot cup of tea.
Sirius turned his head towards Bill and asked, "That bad eh? So what did the twerp get into?"
"Sirius, honestly it wasn't bad, It's just..."
"Okay what did he make you promise?"
"He didn't make me promise anything, actually."
Percy and Sirius glanced at each other with glints of amusement dancing in both men's eyes. "Uh, uh, so just what happened?"
"He has a new drink invention that causes one to hallucinate mermaids flying and dragons swimming."
"Really, that sounds cute, are you gonna tell Mom? She already knows about the Candy Kits." asked Percy as he tried to keep from snickering.
"I can't tell Mom because she would kill me too."
"Why? What did you have to do with it?" questioned Sirius
"I was dumb enough to find, and give him the book where he found the formula, even though he says he tweaked it a bit."
"The kid is an evil genius." Sirius snickered.
Percy pursed his lips then said as he shook with barely concealed laughter "He has been trained well by the twins all right."
"Amazing how he can manage to make you feel responsible for what he did," Bill mumbled as he drank his tea. And glared at Percy.
"Yea, that is a Slytherin trait, all right," laughed Sirius.
Draco whispered to the other three teens sitting with him. "I hope she won't be too rough on the twerp."
"I don't think that will be a problem." whispered Ron, "She isn't likely to forget what happened the last time she yelled.'
"It was pretty terrifying, especially with the storm and having to find him when he ran off." Harry explained further.
In the drawing room three very nervous boys sat down waiting for Molly to blast them. At least she hadn't yelled at them in front of everyone else." They huddled together, the twins pulling a trembling Severus in between them and wrapping their arms around him as if to protect him.
Molly stood watching the boys in silence with her arms on her ample hips. Her head cocked to one side as she observed them. Her temper was being held in check by the knowledge that they were not the only ones pranking and also she had been alerted by Dumbledore to be careful as to how she disciplined them. Poppy had stated that the boy was still very fragile when it became to being social, It was still role playing to the boy right now, it would take a lot longer than half a year to really break through his defenses and make him feel truly safe and cared for.
The trepidation in the child's eyes almost melted Molly's determination to have the talk with them about their responsibilities to get their full education and to quit with the pranking. She brought one hand up and pinched the bridge of her nose then spoke. "I wont bother comparing your grades with that of your brothers, you know how bad they are, but I want to know why it is you two." she glowered at Fred then George, "have to get our little Twerp involved with your pranks."
"I put them up to it." Severus said as his face lost what little colour it had. "Umbridge was using dark magic in her detentions." He looked up at Molly with wide fearful eyes. "We had to get rid of her, Pranking was the only way to drive her out."
Fred and George hugged the boy a little tighter. "He is telling the truth mom, only he didn't need to put us up to it"
"At least when the twerp was an adult he did not use physical torture or go the lengths she did to make our lives miserable.'
Molly's eyes glowed as she heard the stories and events leading up to the pranks pulled at Halloween and then the making of the candy kits and sending one to Umbridge as a disguised gift from a secret admirer.
"All right, I hope the rest of the year will be a little more productive, academically that is." She scolded them as they sat there. "I don't want to hear of any more mischief for the rest of the year, understand?"
"Yes mom." the twins said relieved that they got off so lightly. Severus sighed and looked blank which worried Molly as she wondered if she had gone a little too far. The Twins left the room as Molly picked up the little boy and cuddled his tense little frame. "I'm not really angry, little Twerp." she whispered to him. "I just worry that the boys will be unable to achieve the success I know they are capable of. Just like you."
Severus shifted and told her, "They are talented Molly, not stupid. So they want to bring a little fun into everyone's life, encourage them to use their own talents, or they may grow away from you."
"But!" Molly said as she sat down and held the little boy tightly. "They want to run a joke shop!" she exclaimed. "They could do much more if they applied their brains more to their studies and entered the Ministry of Magic like their Father.'
Severus shifted again and looked squarely at Molly. "Not everyone of your children will be what you want them to be. Percy resembles Arthur the most, and he is following his footsteps in regards to becoming a ministry official. That is what makes him happy. The others want to follow their own dreams, and if you support them they will be just as successful as you want them to be. He paused momentarily and asked with a tremor in his voice. "Remember what Percy said in the summer?"
Molly's eyes moistened as she recalled her shock at finding out how close Percy came to walking out of her life and that of the family. Severus waited patiently, in his own Slytherin way for her to see and understand what he was trying to convey to her.
The twins hadn't gone too far away as they stood in the hallway just out of their mothers eyesight. They gave each other glances of hope and slightly amused wonder as they overheard little Severus talking to their mother.
"Brave isn't he" whispered Fred. "Yeah, and being sneaky too." "You think he will convince her to allow us to open our own shop?" "If he can't convince her no one can."