The Handshake

Severus Snape

"Uncle Severus," Draco calls petulantly and Severus hides behind the door of the dining room. He's in the Malfoy manor for Halloween. It's their tradition. Severus spends Halloween at the manor but today Lucius wants him here because Draco won't stop pestering them about Harry Potter.

"Father," Draco calls and then, "mother."

They are in hiding too. Draco is very angry. One would expect him to be angry at the entire Gryffindor house in totality. They are all hyperactive, irritating fools but Draco is not any better than them.

But, Draco is not angry at all of his housemates, no, he's angry at one Harry Potter for refusing to shake his hand in the Hogwarts express and he just won't stop about it.

Severus wishes to merlin that the second child the Malfoys have is a Slytherin.

Draco settles down alone at the table. He seems morose and of course, Severus can't stay hidden any longer. He loves his godson, loath as he is to admit it.

So, he clears his throat and settles down across from him.

Lucius and Narcissa arrive a few minutes later.

"Draco, will you stop about Potter already?" Severus says exasperatedly.

Draco looks at him, his eyes very indignant, "it's an insult that I can't tolerate uncle Sev. He rejected my hand. Mine! I only wanted to be his friend and he rejected me. I'll never forgive him."

Lucius' jaw twitches. He's enjoying this thoroughly - the bastard.

"So, now you have decided to follow him around, haven't you? You will follow him around until he accepts your hand," Severus asks, "you are obsessed with him, Draco. It's not healthy."

Draco turns beet red, "I'm not obsessed. It's an insult to the name of all the Malfoys. How dare you reject me?"

Severus breathes deeply before opening his mouth but Lucius beats him to it, "you shouldn't obsess over that boy, you know. Your godfather was obsessed with Black and-"

"I was NOT obsessed with that bloody traitor, thank you very much," Severus insists for the thousandth time.

"Traitor! That's why you have been trying to find Pettigrew because you think that Black was responsible for what happened, eh? That's why you aided him in escaping Azkaban all those years ago because you think that he's a traitor?" Lucius says, his eyes full of mirth.

"Who is this Black? Is he from mother's side?" Draco asks, "are you talking about Sirius Black? He's Potter's godfather, isn't he? He's in hiding. Maybe, I'll locate him and blackmail Potter into shaking my hand. It's just not fair. I only wanted to be his friend," right before folding his arms and glaring at the ceiling.

All of them burst out laughing, even Severus.