A/N: Another short one, but it gets the point across. Snape! He'll get a bigger part pretty soon, too, because I've neglected him too much in other fics. I appreciate him a teeny bit more now, if not only for my aimless wandering into the world of MWPP fics. So Draco was drunk. Now he's hung over. And a letter appears, along with something shiny.. *cackle* Anyway, read. Here you go…
Chapter 7
At 11:30 PM on July 31st, Draco downed another bottle of Finkley's Hangover-B-Gone Potion™ and dropped his head to the table. He had been staying at the Leaky Cauldron since his father had thrown him out of the manor.
He had finished the bottle of Jack Daniel's and started on another bottle of Ogden's Fire Whiskey when he passed out. So far he had drunk three bottles of Finkley's and his head was pounding instead of throbbing now.
There was a thump at the window. Draco didn't react, quite sure it was just an effect of the alcohol.
It didn't go away. In fact, it thumped louder and squawked.
He finally got up after this repeated three times and opened the window. A pure black owl--possibly the Salazar breed--flew up. He didn't recognize it, but let it drop onto the desk anyway.
It had what appeared to be a bulging leather pouch tied to its leg. It clinked.
Draco paused and looked very, very carefully at it.
Until what was soon to be two days ago, Draco had been a rich little snot. And he knew the sound of money.
He untied the pouch and let loose the contents onto the table. At least a hundred Galleons spilled out with a very impressive sound. Draco stared for a moment, then noticed the letter. In an eloquent, tight script, it said thus on the envelope: Master Draco Malfoy.
There was only one person who would address him like that. He opened the letter.
"To Master Draco Malfoy--
The money which I truly hope still accompanies this owl was the bounty on your father's head when he ran, which I collected. As I know Lucius quite well, I was certain he would disown you as soon as he got the news about you and the late Harry Potter. If this is the case, and even if it isn't, this money is yours to use, and I pray that you use it well. You lived in more danger and secrecy than I ever have as a spy of Dumbledore's, for it seems that only Dumbledore, and perhaps not even he, knew of your relationship with Harry Potter. Your spot as the prized son of Voldemort's left hand should have made that relationship impossible, yet I imagine that you and Potter must have found some way around that extremely large obstacle along with every other that must have come along. I admire you, for you have truly brought honor to your name. You are no Malfoy.
With esteem,
Severus Snape
Draco closed the letter. He was silent for a moment, as if he was debating something inside his head. Then he gathered the money, his few possessions he had lugged throughout London after leaving the manor, and left the Leaky Cauldron.
