Disclaimers: Refer to Chapter One
When Living is No Longer Enough…
Chapter Twelve
"Lucius," Snape greeted the uninvited caller in a tone so cold that it might very well have the ability to instantly freeze molten lava. "What an unexpected, not to mention unwanted, delight."
The potion master's sarcasm was not lost on the fair-haired wizard surveying him from the fireplace. "Severus, dear friend, is that any way to treat someone who is merely concerned for your well being? After all, it's been a long time since we last saw one another."
"Not nearly long enough dear friend so speak your piece and leave me the hell alone."
"Ah, still a little upset over our last meeting I see," the dark wizard chuckled. "You were always one to hold a grudge weren't you?"
"If memory serves me correctly, you tried to kill me when last we met. That type of thing tends to irritate me. Now is there a point to this conversation Lucius or are you merely slumming?" Snape asked in a bored voice. Walking over to the Liquor cabinet he poured a drink and took a seat on the sofa that Hermione had vacated not so very long ago.
"From what I hear, you are the one that seems to be slumming lately. First you turn your back on our master and the rest of your brothers in favor of that doddering old muggle-loving fool and now I hear reports that you seem to be displaying an interest in a certain mudblood. Have you no shame Severus? No respect left for the time-honored ways and values which we so diligently live our lives by?" Malfoy angrily spat.
Snape sat back quietly listening to the Death Eater's words. Lucius's views on Albus Dumbledore and muggleborns were common knowledge and something that wouldn't be changed through the exchange of mere words or arguments. Therefore he decided the best course of action was to merely gloss over the other man's words and push toward an end to the conversation. "My values remain as intact as ever Lucius although yours still seem questionable at best. Now, the hour grows late and I find myself tiring of your little visit so, unless you have something of some importance to impart to me, I suggest we end this conversation."
"I would call my son 'something of some importance' wouldn't you?" he asked allowing his voice to rise in volume. "You turned him against me, against the Dark Lord, against his rightful future and look where it got him… killed. And for what? Voldemort will still win this war and you and your pathetic group of muggle lovers will kneel before him before you are granted the courtesy of dying. My only hope is that I'm allowed the pleasure of overseeing the deaths of those closest to you. And believe me, die they will although I shall allow you the honor of living long enough to witness such glorious events. You will pay dearly for what you have done to the Malfoy family Severus and you will pay with every last breath you draw."
"You always were one for the dramatic weren't you?" the potion's master replied calmly, lifting his hand to his mouth in an obvious attempt to stifle a yawn. "However, I feel that I must point out one rather large flaw in your foolish ramblings. I did not turn your son against you. You managed that entirely on your own and therefore must claim credit for any consequences that may have been born as a result."
"I did nothing of the sort," Lucius Malfoy spit out, his temper obviously beginning to get the best of him. "All of those years he spent under your 'tutelage' at Hogwart's were nothing more than a cover. Instead of teaching him the ways of a Slytherin you were actually teaching him to betray the Malfoy family name!"
"Oh do calm down Lucius before your incessant ramblings give us both a headache. Draco turned from you as a result of what you did to Narcissa. Again, you have only yourself to blame."
"I did nothing to the woman" Malfoy managed to ground out through clenched teeth.
"True enough," Snape agreed with a false congeniality. "Providing of course that you consider spousal abuse, rape and murder to be nothing."
"Lies! You told him lies!" Draco's father spit venomously.
"I told him nothing!" Severus exclaimed slamming his glass down on the table before him. "He was there that night Lucius. He saw everything from under the cover of your invisibility cloak. He was sickened when he realized that all of your posturing was nothing more than a smokescreen that served to hide your true nature. So stop your pathetic wounded father act and go back to being the traitorous lapdog that you are. I for one have heard enough of your self proclamations to last a lifetime."
"It will be a very short lifetime you muggle loving coward," the angry man hissed. "Our Lord will be making his final strikes soon enough but until then, be warned, for I am watching you. You cannot hide behind the robes of that aging fool forever. Sooner or later you will find it necessary to leave the castle grounds and rest assured that when that time comes, I will be there, waiting for you. In the meantime, enjoy your mudblood whore while you can. After all, you never know when accidents might happen."
One final 'pop' sounded from the fireplace and the potions master once again found himself alone in the quiet confines of his own chambers. Allowing his head to fall into his hands he sat quietly for several minutes considering Lucius' words. He knew the man well enough to know that the threats made against him were anything but idle. Draco's defection to the order had brought shame upon the Malfoy family in the eyes of both the Dark Lord and his followers. More likely than not, Lucius had paid the for the boy's change in loyalties through some form of severe punishment by Voldemort as a result. And while Severus wasn't worried by the threats the dark wizard had made against him personally, he was concerned for those directed at Hermione. After all, Lucius would derive a sort of twisted satisfaction at the thought of harming the young witch if he truly believed she played even the minutest role in Snape's affections. And Severus was finally able to admit to himself that the one-time know-it-all was becoming increasingly important to him.
Shaking his head in exasperation, the ex-death eater stood up and walked to the fireplace. Grabbing a small handful of floo powder, he tossed it into the fire and stood back as the flames sparked higher. "Albus Dumbledore," he muttered impatiently and stepped into the green flames that would transport him directly to the headmaster's office.
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The first sight that greeted him as he stepped from the fireplace was that of the magnificent phoenix perched on a golden pedestal at the far end of the office. "Hello Fawkes" the potions master greeted the bird and was rewarded with a soft call from Dumbledore's feathered friend.
"Ah Severus," the headmaster said as he descended the spiral staircase. "What an unexpected but pleasant surprise."
"You may not think my visit so pleasant when you hear what I have to say Albus," Snape replied tersely. "I just received a visit from none other than Lucius Malfoy."
"Ah yes, Mr. Malfoy. I was wondering how much longer we would have to wait before he made an appearance. I suspect he was upset by young Draco's death, was he not?" the headmaster questioned as he summoned two cups of hot cocoa and handed one to Snape.
Taking a sip of the warm liquid, Severus sighed and took a seat opposite the headmaster. "Yes. Although he seemed more concerned with regards to the direction of Draco's loyalties than in the fact that the boy is no longer alive and well."
"Indeed, such a pity" Dumbledore said softly shaking his head with regret. "I assume Mr. Malfoy blames you for Draco's change of heart?"
"Most definitely although I did take the liberty of pointing out to him that Draco's 'change of heart' as you put it was a direct result of his own failure as a father rather than my deliberate intervention into the affairs of the Malfoy family's future," the younger man sneered.
"Alas, I truly doubt Lucius would have been nominated for any father-of-the-year awards even if young Mr. Malfoy had decided to follow his father's path. Do you?"
"Certainly not," Severus scoffed. "At any rate, he did mention that Voldemort is planning his final strike in the very near future which seems to validate our own theories."
"Sadly so. Did he give any indication as to what form we might expect this strike to arrive in?" the older wizard asked in a voice that suggested he knew the answer before the question had a chance to exit his mouth.
"No, merely that it would be soon, that Voldemort would be the victor and that we will all exit this miserable world in a blaze of kneeling, torturous disgrace, at the feet of the Dark Lord himself" the potions master said. "In other words, his usual ramblings of superiority and world domination."
"Ah yes, Lucius always did tend to run on about such things," Albus agreed. "Severus, did he say anything else?"
Snape hesitated for a moment upon hearing the headmaster's question. 'How much should I tell him?' he thought to himself. 'Better yet, how much of it was Lucius rambling and how much will the blackguard actually attempt to carry through with?'
Deciding that Lucius was serious enough to attempt something and worried that he might make some type of attempt against Hermione, Severus went ahead and shared the remainder of their conversation with his friend and mentor.
"I see" Dumbledore said quietly. "And you think that Professor Granger may be in the greatest amount of danger?"
"Lucius seems to believe that I have expressed an interest in her and therefore would not hesitate to harm her if he thought that by doing so, he could get back at me in the process. I can only assume that Voldemort has spies amongst the children and that at least one of them have mentioned the fact that Professor Granger and I seem to be spending more time than usual together. They would have no way of knowing that time is spent in an effort to defeat Voldemort himself."
Dumbledore nearly laughed at Snape's words and his obvious attempt to downplay any personal feelings between himself and Hermione. However, he knew the younger man well enough to know that if he was taking the time to bring the matter to light than the threat was more than likely genuine. And while the headmaster would not mind seeing a relationship develop between two of his most favorite professors, he also wanted to do everything in his power to ensure their safety. "Very well, we will have to keep a very close eye on Professor Granger. She will not be allowed to leave the castle unless she has someone with her and I would appreciate it very much if you would keep watch over her when classes are not in session. I especially do not want her wandering the halls during the evenings by herself."
"I will do my best although I doubt that it would be wise to inform the professor that she has been placed under house arrest as it were" he replied with a small grin at the thought of the young witch's reaction to such news.
"Perhaps you are right Severus. Perhaps discretion will serve to aide us better in this particular instance," Dumbledore agreed. "In light of this evening's news, I can't stress the necessity of continuing with our plans with the utmost speed and precision. I trust that you and Professor Granger will succeed in this as you do in all else."
"We will do our best headmaster," Snape replied grabbing a handful of floo powder. Wishing his friend a good night, he deftly tossed the powdery substance into the fireplace and returned to the solace of his own quarters.
"I do worry for them Fawkes," Dumbledore said quietly as he extinguished the lights and ascended the staircase to turn in for the night.
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TBC