Chapter 33: The Undaunted
My Thanks To All My Readers And Reviewers...Enjoy-S.S.
The Entrance Hall,Malfoy Manor, Wizarding World...
Lucius Malfoy had been pacing the floor like a man possessed as he sought the return of his godson Regulus. He had been reminded of all those nights he had waited to hear word from Severus during the most grueling parts of the wizarding wars. The sting of the dour wizard's loss had never left the once elegant and charming senior Malfoy as he gripped the firewhiskey bottle.
A loud and reverberating crack of thunder had gotten his undivided attention and he rushed out into the front of the house to meet the weary traveler. As he made his way outside the door, his sorrowful gray eyes caught sight of Severus Snape's boy appearing to fall from the sky as if he had been unable to control his apparation.
"Shit." said Lucius racing over to catch the younger wizard before he hit the ground.
It had been an impressive catch to say the least given how drunk the older wizard had been. He pulled the seemingly unconscious Regulus into his arms.
As he held the only son of Severus Snape close to him and the blood pooled from various wounds all the aged wizard could think of is how many times he had taken Severus in after finding him in this condition.
Like father, like son.
Lucius carried the unconscious Regulus into the manor and set to work on treating his numerous injuries. He had not known what had caused this but he could bet that it had been Potter related.
RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
The Snape Residence, North America, Unknown World...
Regulus had been half asleep as his father held him pacing the living room. His ear rested against his father's ebony clad shoulder and the scent of herbs and fresh earth filled his tiny nose making the moment even more memorable.
He had only been seven then and his father aged due to grief after a three year absence from the family. His mother had been busily scrubbing the dishes following dinner despite being told she didn't need to worry with such trivial things. The aged wizard seemed to move much more slowly than he had in the past and it appeared all the youthful flare had gone out of him.
The boy had not known the injuries his father suffered while imprisoned in Azkaban nor the emotional torment he was careful to hide from those around him.
Regulus had not wanted to let the newly returned wizard go, fearing that he'd leave again and wouldn't return for another three years or more.
"Sleep little Prince." said Snape gently rocking his young son. "For tomorrow is another day."
RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Snape's Bedroom, Malfoy Manor, Wizarding World...
Sweat poured heavily from the brow of an adult Regulus as Lucius Malfoy did his best to treat his numerous injuries. The fact that the boy was prone to fever much like his father had only intensified his concern for him.
The burn mark on the side of his left shoulder had been similar to the tattoo that Lucius had on his left shoulder. He could do little to treat it even with magic and potions at his disposal. The best he could do was offer a handy glamour charm.
Regulus gripped the sheets of his father's bed as more sweat poured off him. His lengthy raven locks stuck to his clammy pale flesh as he reacted to the pain.
In the wake of the fever's delusion, he could have sworn he had seen his father standing at the foot of the bed.
"D-Dad..,?" said the fevered young wizard.
"It's going to be alright Regulus." said Lucius receiving a wet cloth from Narcissa as she entered the room.
He wiped the boy's brow determined to see him through the worst of it.
Regulus reached out for the figure of Severus Snape before him but it disappeared as another wave of agony ripped through him.
Draco entered the room with a freshly brewed pain potion and gave it to Narcissa. Both he and Lucius lifted the ailing Regulus just enough for him to drink it as she fed it to him. Once the worst of it was over, The Malfoy clan allowed the poor young Snape to get some much needed rest.
They had been completely convinced that Harry Potter had been the reason the young wizard had been in such a condition and they were determined to ensure that no other Snape was killed in the wake of that ever dependent wizard's idiocy.
RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Snape's Bedroom, Malfoy Manor, Wizarding World...
The sleeping wizard's mind had traveled back to the amber eyes of Hermione Granger-Weasley. Even in his current condition he couldn't get the beautiful witch off his mind. He recalled the members of The Serpent Brother's Of Destruction threatening her and all whom appeared to be close to Harry Potter.
Regulus' obsidian eyes opened and he forced himself to sit up despite his body feeling out of sorts. He needed to warn Hermione of the impending attack even if it meant his own life would be extinguished.
The injured wizard forced himself out of bed and gathered his scattered attire. His left shoulder was numb and sporting a rather nasty scar. Unbeknownst to him, Lucius Malfoy had placed a glamour charm on the wound to make it appear so. He shuffled into his jeans and shoes despite his injuries and leapt out the window.
Narcissa Malfoy had been about to enter the room with a tray of food and tea when she noted that the younger wizard had been missing. She sighed heavily taking care to leave the tray on the end table before heading back downstairs.
"That boy is much too much like his father." she said sadly.
Lucius had seemed to gather as much by the look on her face when she returned from her trip to Severus' bedroom.
"I suppose we'll just have to wait for him to crash in again." he said turning his attention back to his drink. "I trust you put the tray under stasis."
"Of course." replied Narcissa. "The boy is a Snape after all."
Lucius nodded in agreement.
"It appears that Regulus and Severus are forever the undaunted." he said taking another drink from his glass he raised it high and turned his attention to the respective portraits of the fallen Potions Master and Narcissa's long deceased cousin, that he had painted in remembrance of the two fallen members of the original S.B.D. "To the undaunted, may you always remain so...little brothers."