Dumbledore came into the Hospital Wing and seemed to age ten years when he
saw Harry. The old wizard very rarely let his emotions show, but today the
fury and grief were etched on his face visibly.
"How is he, Poppy?"
The Medi-witch shook her head.
"Not good. I've healed all of his external injuries, but there's nothing I can do about his internal ones. It would be hard for most healthy people to heal, but he's so badly malnourished I. . ." she broke off and looked down at the floor. "I'm not sure if he'll make it."
Dumbledore bowed his head for a moment.
"Has Severus been here?"
"Yes. . .he was hovering around like a giant overgrown bat while I was attempting to heal Harry. I sent him away to go and find you. It is important Harry is around people who care for him at the moment." Seeing Dumbledore's thoughtful expression, she added sharply,
"And I don't think trying to get him expelled every term counts as caring."
Albus smiled slightly, and, changing the subject, said,
"Well, I would like to stay here, but I am afraid given the current state of the Ministry, Fudge will not permit me to miss this meeting. Please inform me the moment Harry's condition changes."
"Yes, of course headmaster"
Halfway out of the door, Dumbledore spoke.
"And if Severus decides to come in again, he may stay as long as he wishes with Harry."
Poppy, albeit reluctantly, nodded.
*********************************
Snape was sitting in his office, running his hands though his hair, when there was a nervous sounding tap on his door. Whoever had knocked was quite right to be worried, disturbing the feared potions master after curfew. With a sigh, he got to his feet, moodily kicking his chair as he passed it, and opened the door. Nothing. Angrily he turned away, when a voice whispered,
"Hang on a minute! Let me in!"
Confused, Snape looked around. There was nothing. And then, inside his office, a shimmering shape formed into Draco Malfoy, invisibility cloak over his arm.
"Mr Malfoy" said Snape, trying to sound happy to see Lucius' son. "What brings you here at this hour?"
"May I have a seat?" asked Draco politely, and Snape almost fell over. Draco NEVER asked. Let alone politely.
"Oh. . .yes, of course" he said, quickly regaining his composure.
"I wanted to talk to you, and not when others could hear me."
"Oh." Said Snape. "Well, what was it?"
He didn't know if it was his imagination, or whether Draco was flushing. A Malfoy NEVER flushed. Or did anything remotely resembling emotions, whether they be love, embarrassment, shame or anger.
"I wanted to apologise. For the way I have treated you, for the way I have made you favour me. I am really sorry."
Determined not to lose his cool again, Snape leaned back in the chair and raised an eyebrow.
"Admirable sentiments, Mr Malfoy. How. . ."
"No!" exclaimed Draco, eyes flashing. "Please, don't call me that professor. Let me explain - listen to me. Please." His voice softened at the end, and despite himself Snape nodded and waved a hand.
"My father took me to be initiated. I. . .I was to scared. I hated what they were doing. I knew I just couldn't do it. My father could tell, somehow. I was meant to be marked, and I tried to run but he pinned me down and they used the cruciatus on me. Voldemort was about to do it, and I apparated away, into muggle London"
Seeing the exasperation on Snape's face he continued hurriedly
"Into an alleyway, of course! Where else should I have gone? And then I ran. They would have found me if they'd looked, but it wasn't like I even knew the identity of any Death Eaters, and who would take the word of a boy? So I just stayed in muggle London, and came here at the start of term."
Snape was silent for a moment. Finally he drew himself out the reverie he had fallen into, and said,
"Draco, don't you think it was a bit stupid to tell me, me being a Death Eater myself?" He thrust out his forearm, and Draco merely smiled.
"I know. And they know."
Snape paled.
"Impossible! How?"
"I don't know. Didn't you wonder why you haven't been Summoned for so long? Voldemort is going to call you soon and kill you. Brutally and painfully."
"And you know this how?"
"I am not stupid" he said, sticking his chest out. "They were talking about vengeance being dealt out to the traitor in our midst."
Snape swallowed inwardly. This was shaping up to be one of the worst days he could remember. And it was only the first evening of term.
"Thank you, Mr. . .Draco, for the apology. If I might be so blunt, I am frankly relieved I will not have to spend this term pandering to you, your father or Voldemort. It will be a most refreshing change."
Draco laughed.
"If it's alright with you, I will call you Draco in every occasion. I presume you are out of touch with Narcissa as well?"
Draco nodded.
"I have no family."
Snape nodded. Had Draco been in any other House, he would have said that his house would be his family. However, the Slytherins would turn on Draco, and few other would forgive him as readily as Snape had for his cruel behaviour.
"You realise it will be very hard to fit in, Draco."
"I know. I've already apologised to Hermione and Ron. I don't know about Ron, but Hermione seems to trust me."
"Two Gryffindors, brave as they may be, aren't going to save you from the Slytherins, especially the children of Voldemort's supporters."
Draco nodded soberly. "I don't think it's safe for me to stay in the Slytherin rooms. I was going to speak to the Headmaster."
Snape nodded. "Yes, or I can talk on your behalf. Until then, I would like you to stay here."
Draco nodded. And then, completely out of the blue:
"Where's Harry?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"Where is Harry Potter?"
Snape sighed.
"I picked him up from his relatives. He had missed the train."
Seeing that Snape wasn't going to say anything else, Draco nodded, and went to get his bags from the Slytherin rooms.
***************************
He woke up later that night feeling thirsty, and padded through to the main room of Snape's chambers. A letter lay on Snape's desk, next to a pile of marking, and Draco was unable to stop himself looking at it.
'Dear Severus,
If you are reading this, that we are dead, and Pettigrew has betrayed us. Yes, we switched Keepers at the last moment. Nobody except Dumbledore, Sirius and Pettigrew knew. And James and I, of course.
I wish I could have told you before, Severus, I truly do. I love you, and I always have done. But something you never knew, is that I am a seer. Not a strong one; though a true one (unlike Sybil) I have seen what would befall you; I have seen how the future would turn out. However, I did not know how this would happen. It was I who asked James to switch the Secret Keeper, having seen our betrayal. I do not know whether I was right in this. I ask only two things; see that the Spy is caught and brought to justice, and take care of Harry.
He is your son.
Yes, Harry James Potter is your son. Do you remember our last night together? I certainly do. I knew I would have to leave you, for my safety and yours. I realised I was pregnant a short time later, and charms have revealed the baby to be yours. James was sad; but we have agreed to give the baby James' name, and allow Sirius the position of Godfather. He has also had charms placed on him which will ensure his resemblance to James, until his 15th birthday. After that, as you have received this letter, nobody else knows, you must tell Harry.
Please, Severus, take care of him. Give him the family that I have seen he will never have due to my sister. Look past James in him, and please, I beg you, Severus, care for him as you would a child of your own.
I remain your loving,
Lily.'
Draco gaped at the sheet of paper. It couldn't be. . .god no, not Snape, not Harry - it wasn't possible. . .Lily and Snape? How did nobody know about them?
"How the hell could this have happened?"
"In the normal way, Draco. I presume I don't have to give you the talk?"
Professor Snape was standing behind Draco, wearing a grey night-gown and a very peeved expression.
"Now, Draco, I know your father didn't set a lot of store by rules, but he surely taught you never to read other people's letters lest you find out something you'd rather not know?"
Draco nodded, his cheeks flaming. He could hardly concentrate on Snape's lecture, the facts whirling around his head. Harry was Snape's son. . .Snape had a son. . .Snape and Lily had. . .ugh! No no no! Ugh!
Snape put his face very close to Draco's.
"If you breathe a word of this to anyone, I will take great pleasure in ripping you limb from limb, and hanging your scalp from the Astronomy Tower gargoyles."
Draco swallowed, suddenly wishing he hadn't read the letter.
"You will NEVER breathe a word of this to anyone again, understood?"
Not trusting his voice, Draco merely nodded, and backed off.
********************************
Snape retreated to his bedroom. Merlin, what had possessed Draco to read THAT, of all things on his table. Aggravating little brat.
But how was Snape going to tell Potter. . .Harry. . .Merlin, what was he even going to call the boy? How would the boy react? Thoughts rushed through Snape's head, whirling and dancing. Unsurprisingly, he didn't sleep that night.. . .
"How is he, Poppy?"
The Medi-witch shook her head.
"Not good. I've healed all of his external injuries, but there's nothing I can do about his internal ones. It would be hard for most healthy people to heal, but he's so badly malnourished I. . ." she broke off and looked down at the floor. "I'm not sure if he'll make it."
Dumbledore bowed his head for a moment.
"Has Severus been here?"
"Yes. . .he was hovering around like a giant overgrown bat while I was attempting to heal Harry. I sent him away to go and find you. It is important Harry is around people who care for him at the moment." Seeing Dumbledore's thoughtful expression, she added sharply,
"And I don't think trying to get him expelled every term counts as caring."
Albus smiled slightly, and, changing the subject, said,
"Well, I would like to stay here, but I am afraid given the current state of the Ministry, Fudge will not permit me to miss this meeting. Please inform me the moment Harry's condition changes."
"Yes, of course headmaster"
Halfway out of the door, Dumbledore spoke.
"And if Severus decides to come in again, he may stay as long as he wishes with Harry."
Poppy, albeit reluctantly, nodded.
*********************************
Snape was sitting in his office, running his hands though his hair, when there was a nervous sounding tap on his door. Whoever had knocked was quite right to be worried, disturbing the feared potions master after curfew. With a sigh, he got to his feet, moodily kicking his chair as he passed it, and opened the door. Nothing. Angrily he turned away, when a voice whispered,
"Hang on a minute! Let me in!"
Confused, Snape looked around. There was nothing. And then, inside his office, a shimmering shape formed into Draco Malfoy, invisibility cloak over his arm.
"Mr Malfoy" said Snape, trying to sound happy to see Lucius' son. "What brings you here at this hour?"
"May I have a seat?" asked Draco politely, and Snape almost fell over. Draco NEVER asked. Let alone politely.
"Oh. . .yes, of course" he said, quickly regaining his composure.
"I wanted to talk to you, and not when others could hear me."
"Oh." Said Snape. "Well, what was it?"
He didn't know if it was his imagination, or whether Draco was flushing. A Malfoy NEVER flushed. Or did anything remotely resembling emotions, whether they be love, embarrassment, shame or anger.
"I wanted to apologise. For the way I have treated you, for the way I have made you favour me. I am really sorry."
Determined not to lose his cool again, Snape leaned back in the chair and raised an eyebrow.
"Admirable sentiments, Mr Malfoy. How. . ."
"No!" exclaimed Draco, eyes flashing. "Please, don't call me that professor. Let me explain - listen to me. Please." His voice softened at the end, and despite himself Snape nodded and waved a hand.
"My father took me to be initiated. I. . .I was to scared. I hated what they were doing. I knew I just couldn't do it. My father could tell, somehow. I was meant to be marked, and I tried to run but he pinned me down and they used the cruciatus on me. Voldemort was about to do it, and I apparated away, into muggle London"
Seeing the exasperation on Snape's face he continued hurriedly
"Into an alleyway, of course! Where else should I have gone? And then I ran. They would have found me if they'd looked, but it wasn't like I even knew the identity of any Death Eaters, and who would take the word of a boy? So I just stayed in muggle London, and came here at the start of term."
Snape was silent for a moment. Finally he drew himself out the reverie he had fallen into, and said,
"Draco, don't you think it was a bit stupid to tell me, me being a Death Eater myself?" He thrust out his forearm, and Draco merely smiled.
"I know. And they know."
Snape paled.
"Impossible! How?"
"I don't know. Didn't you wonder why you haven't been Summoned for so long? Voldemort is going to call you soon and kill you. Brutally and painfully."
"And you know this how?"
"I am not stupid" he said, sticking his chest out. "They were talking about vengeance being dealt out to the traitor in our midst."
Snape swallowed inwardly. This was shaping up to be one of the worst days he could remember. And it was only the first evening of term.
"Thank you, Mr. . .Draco, for the apology. If I might be so blunt, I am frankly relieved I will not have to spend this term pandering to you, your father or Voldemort. It will be a most refreshing change."
Draco laughed.
"If it's alright with you, I will call you Draco in every occasion. I presume you are out of touch with Narcissa as well?"
Draco nodded.
"I have no family."
Snape nodded. Had Draco been in any other House, he would have said that his house would be his family. However, the Slytherins would turn on Draco, and few other would forgive him as readily as Snape had for his cruel behaviour.
"You realise it will be very hard to fit in, Draco."
"I know. I've already apologised to Hermione and Ron. I don't know about Ron, but Hermione seems to trust me."
"Two Gryffindors, brave as they may be, aren't going to save you from the Slytherins, especially the children of Voldemort's supporters."
Draco nodded soberly. "I don't think it's safe for me to stay in the Slytherin rooms. I was going to speak to the Headmaster."
Snape nodded. "Yes, or I can talk on your behalf. Until then, I would like you to stay here."
Draco nodded. And then, completely out of the blue:
"Where's Harry?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"Where is Harry Potter?"
Snape sighed.
"I picked him up from his relatives. He had missed the train."
Seeing that Snape wasn't going to say anything else, Draco nodded, and went to get his bags from the Slytherin rooms.
***************************
He woke up later that night feeling thirsty, and padded through to the main room of Snape's chambers. A letter lay on Snape's desk, next to a pile of marking, and Draco was unable to stop himself looking at it.
'Dear Severus,
If you are reading this, that we are dead, and Pettigrew has betrayed us. Yes, we switched Keepers at the last moment. Nobody except Dumbledore, Sirius and Pettigrew knew. And James and I, of course.
I wish I could have told you before, Severus, I truly do. I love you, and I always have done. But something you never knew, is that I am a seer. Not a strong one; though a true one (unlike Sybil) I have seen what would befall you; I have seen how the future would turn out. However, I did not know how this would happen. It was I who asked James to switch the Secret Keeper, having seen our betrayal. I do not know whether I was right in this. I ask only two things; see that the Spy is caught and brought to justice, and take care of Harry.
He is your son.
Yes, Harry James Potter is your son. Do you remember our last night together? I certainly do. I knew I would have to leave you, for my safety and yours. I realised I was pregnant a short time later, and charms have revealed the baby to be yours. James was sad; but we have agreed to give the baby James' name, and allow Sirius the position of Godfather. He has also had charms placed on him which will ensure his resemblance to James, until his 15th birthday. After that, as you have received this letter, nobody else knows, you must tell Harry.
Please, Severus, take care of him. Give him the family that I have seen he will never have due to my sister. Look past James in him, and please, I beg you, Severus, care for him as you would a child of your own.
I remain your loving,
Lily.'
Draco gaped at the sheet of paper. It couldn't be. . .god no, not Snape, not Harry - it wasn't possible. . .Lily and Snape? How did nobody know about them?
"How the hell could this have happened?"
"In the normal way, Draco. I presume I don't have to give you the talk?"
Professor Snape was standing behind Draco, wearing a grey night-gown and a very peeved expression.
"Now, Draco, I know your father didn't set a lot of store by rules, but he surely taught you never to read other people's letters lest you find out something you'd rather not know?"
Draco nodded, his cheeks flaming. He could hardly concentrate on Snape's lecture, the facts whirling around his head. Harry was Snape's son. . .Snape had a son. . .Snape and Lily had. . .ugh! No no no! Ugh!
Snape put his face very close to Draco's.
"If you breathe a word of this to anyone, I will take great pleasure in ripping you limb from limb, and hanging your scalp from the Astronomy Tower gargoyles."
Draco swallowed, suddenly wishing he hadn't read the letter.
"You will NEVER breathe a word of this to anyone again, understood?"
Not trusting his voice, Draco merely nodded, and backed off.
********************************
Snape retreated to his bedroom. Merlin, what had possessed Draco to read THAT, of all things on his table. Aggravating little brat.
But how was Snape going to tell Potter. . .Harry. . .Merlin, what was he even going to call the boy? How would the boy react? Thoughts rushed through Snape's head, whirling and dancing. Unsurprisingly, he didn't sleep that night.. . .