Chapter 6
Lucius Malfoy smiled as he saw an owl with a letter waiting by the window. He immediately recognized his friend's characteristic handwriting. Seeing the envelope, he couldn't even be angry that Severus Snape had been silent for so long. The blond broke the wax seal with excitement and pulled out the parchment.
As his eyes flashed quickly at words that bothered him more than comfort him.
Lucius, I don't know when we'll see each other again. I don't know if we'll see each other again. Where I am, I am safe. I found friends and even someone to help me forget about you. I didn't have the courage to say it to your face but I hope you know that you aren't only my friend to me ...
This wasn't what the Malfoy heir expected. He thought he would find a decent explanation, not a short piece of information and a confession of feelings. ''Salazar, Sev. When I meet you, I'll just strangle you.''
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Severus sat furiously, tapping his fingers on the table top. Corvus knew his cousin was upset. He noticed that their grandparents were slightly amused by the situation. He thought it was only because they had yet to know the extent of Sev's explosive temperament.
''What are you worried about?'' Remus Prince asked, genuinely curious.
A smirk appeared on his grandson's face. ''Me? Nothing. I just wonder what the purpose of changing the style I dress is. I understand that I need new clothes, mine are more like rags, but why… I prefer not to imagine it. I like my hair.''
''Nobody tells you to cut them. Your resemblance to Severus Snape can be explained by family characteristics, but some things have to change about you. You cannot be too 'similar' to yourself. We have to take care of every detail. Understand?'' said the younger brother.
The former Slytherin knew what they meant, but he didn't want to change too much. It will be a big change to give back some memories. It's like cutting off half of your soul. ''I'm just afraid. But I know we'll get through this together.''
xxx
Never has the silence been so loud in the Great Hall.
''Could you please repeat that?'' the beautiful blonde girl sitting at the Slytherin table asked the question. Steven Frost noticed that she was even more pale than usual. "Did we hear correctly that Severus Snape is dead?"
"Miss ..." the wizard hesitated, unable to remember her name.
''Miss Black. My name is Narcissa Druella Black. Severus is my friend ...''
''Yes it's true. Mr. Snape died yesterday morning. I was informed that his family had taken care of his burial and other formalities related to his condition. If anyone is interested in expressing condolences, I will serve the address in the evening. The Prince is quite private, so I know that they will only accept messages from friends of their lost grandson and nephew.''
Steven Frost couldn't hide his satisfaction with how the other students reacted. Contrary to what his godson Corvus wrote to him, his cousin had a good number of people who actually cared for him. He wasn't surprised at the reaction of the Slytherin table. His surprise brought a blank stare in Remus Lupin's eyes. It was obvious the boy wasn't bad. He needed solid support. He thought it was time to get a favor from someone. There is no clause in the Ministry's requirements saying that a werewolf cannot be a teacher. The wizard hoped that HE would be able to devote two years to this school. After all, the time of one of the few Born Werewolves is really precious.
xxx
This day was annoying. Not only for Tom Riddle. From the moment he directed the unfamiliar owl to his son's room, Abraxas expected Lucius to feel better. He recognized the skilled handwriting of the young, dark-haired wizard. It was easy, because he is one of the few young people who still wrote as if they had taken a calligraphy course.
''I wonder if everyone has been bitten today.'' Abraxas said when he saw Tom walking around his office.
Tom frowned before he said. ''What do you mean?''
''First you come to me early in the morning and talk about everything except what really worries you and now my son is behaving like my wife when she was pregnant with him.''
''I don't know what your child might be talking about. I am upset, because I received a letter from Severus Snape yesterday. Probably, if this cocky boy was standing next to me, I would just torture him for so long that I would later regret not talking to him first, because it might be late.''
"What he wrote to you that instead of taking your anger out on me, as it was sometimes in the past, you are more or less in control?"
''He wrote that I should start using my brain and instead of trying to take power by force, use the political power of my followers. The Knights of Walpurgia should be an old-fashioned organization, not a Muggle gang dealing with terror, murder and corruption. He criticized the black mark as too obvious in possible arrests. He also asked me to go to power by politics and not by force, so as not to give Albus a weapon to use against us. And that's only half of what he wrote.''
Abraxas chuckled. Tom Riddle has never been able to handle criticism. It was funny that it was someone so young who wrote him something like that in a letter. He didn't dare to say everything to Tom's face, but he had to reckon with the fact that they would see each other again someday.
xxx
Remus Lupin wasn't listening to what was now said in the Gryffindor common room. He was irritated by the fact that suddenly Severus Snape had become someone everyone was missing. He had to leave.
On his way to Steven Frost's office, he was surprised by an owl that bumped into him as he approached the belief in which the Owlery was. The little white fluffy owl wouldn't leave him. It took Remus a moment to notice that a letter addressed to him was stuck to her leg.
''Show me what you've got.'' the owl was clearly pleased that the package had been detached from it. The bird sat on his shoulder, apparently waiting for something.
It took only moments for him to break the seal and pull out the parchment.
Lupin, thank you. Thanks for thinking about checking it out after all this. I hope we can still talk after I get back. I am dealing with something that might help you ... I am asking you not to tell anyone about this note. Severus Snape.
The former prefect started to cry. This boy had such a good heart. Everything that his friends had done and everything that he was indifferent to flashed before his eyes. And what was it all for? For Lily? After all, he had NEVER been interested in her that way. He will never forget the day he found out that a Slytherin was in love with Lucius Malfoy. It was sheer carelessness on his part, but the really dark-haired boy thought he was alone in the library. He didn't suspect that someone would overhear his frustration and help him wipe his tears.
xxx
Narcissa looked at her sister. For the first time, she was pleased with the fact that Bellatrix failed transmutation and had to repeat a year. She doesn't know what she would do now if Bella had finished Hogwarts with Lucius. She would have no one but Regulus to lean on. And Regulus needed help himself. She knew that since the younger Black brother had entered Slytherin, he had seen his brother in the person of Severus Snape. He saw someone who should be his brother instead of Sirius.
''What are we going to tell Lucius?'' She whispered staring at the fire in the fireplace. ''He's going to break down.''
''Will he break down? This is an understatement. If it weren't for the fact that I know he is in love with you, I would have thought he had a crush on Sevvy.'' Bella replied. Then she got up and shouted to the people sitting with them in the common room. ''Anyone who is willing to express group condolences should report to us by the end of the day. Those who don't report are to send condolences themselves. It is a difficult time for his family, so the less we disturb them, the better. Understand?''
Evan Rosier, sitting next to her, said shortly. ''You better write to Luc. He is waiting for any news about Him. Better for him to find out from us, not from someone else. Or worse than Dumbledore. Lucius's father is on the Board of Governors. He has access to such information.''
''Salazar!'' Narcissa caught herself making a mistake. ''How could I forget about it?''
xxx
The evening at Malfoy Manor had been calmer than it had promised at the beginning of the day. Abraxas looked with satisfaction at his, now calm, son and at his friend who had gone through the anger due to Severus' inappropriate behavior.
Dinner went well until a note appeared in front of his son after the blue flame had burned out.
''Bellatrix.'' He sighed irritably, his future daughter-in-law's sister was seriously exaggerating with creating her own spells. ''What happened this time?''
Lucius scanned the words on the parchment with his eyes. His face twisted in pain. He looked even worse than when he found out about his younger friend's disappearance.
''Son, I'll repeat the question. What happened?''
''Just today I got a letter from him in which he wrote that he felt something more than friendship for me. I wanted to tell him that I ... That me too ...'' The boy started shaking. ''Severus is dead. It's too late now.''
xxx
Severus was lying in his dormitory. He wondered if he should tell Lucius what was happening. But it was too late. He hoped that this proud blonde would forgive him someday.
''Merlin, what are you doing?'' He shouted to the redhead who uninvited entered his room.
''Pretty boy, take it easy. I think I have chosen a good time to introduce myself to my new colleague.''
xxx
There will be some drama in this story. I am still wondering if I am going to introduce a romantic theme here. You can be sure of one thing. There will be a "border" relationship between Lucius and Severus. I don't know if you know what I mean. Would you like Severus Prince and Lucius Malfoy to meet soon or should a few years pass? Regards, katie-krum