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Chapter 11: Malfoys and Mischief
Severus Snape did not know why he had sent Harry Dreamless Sleep Potion. The boy would certainly have use for the potion after the day's events, and memories of his recent loss were bound to surface on his birthday. The Headmaster had mentioned that little bit of information. Meddlesome Old Coot.
The fact remained, though, that the boy reminded Snape less and less of his arrogant prat of a father, and more and more of Lily as time passed.
Severus smirked at the thought of sleeping with his enemy's wife. Severus had gotten the ultimate revenge on James Potter.
Severus quickly pulled himself from his ruminations. After Lucius had spoken to the Headmaster the other day, he had called on Severus requesting that he come by the manner today.
Severus readied himself for the meeting, which he did not expect to be a pleasant one. Severus had an inkling that Lucius suspected him of being a spy. Okay, he had more than an inkling…
Severus Apparated to the borders of the wards surrounding Malfoy Manor. The wards recognized him as he entered the compound.
One would think that with the sheer amount of money associated with the Malfoy name, someone in the family at some point would have thought to buy some taste, Snape sneered. The sheer quantity of gilded surfaces visible was enough to turn Severus's stomach. The exaggerated opulence was simply annoying. Would Lucius never learn that a dozen fountains in a garden was not necessarily better than one? Severus supposed not. After all, Lucius was a man of excess.
"Severus," Lucius greeted the potions master as he reached the door. "So good of you to come. Please, do come in." It was a tradition in the wizarding world to greet one's own guests. To send a servant or a house elf would have been considered a grave and intentional slight.
"Thank you, Lucius, it is my pleasure, as always, to come by the Manor," Snape lied. Lucius smirked and Severus sneered, though it was a polite sneer.
"So, what is it that I can do for you, Lucius?" asked Snape once they were settled in the drawing room.
"Not for me," said Lucius. Severus knew that these words could herald nothing good, but his outer appearance showed none of his distaste, only polite curiosity. "For our Lord," finished Lucius, confirming Snape's fears.
"And how can I help serve our Lord?" Snape pressed.
"All in good time, my dear friend, all in due time," Lucius said.
Dear friend, indeed, thought Snape.
"I've asked Draco to join us for this discussion," Lucius finished.
Oh dear Gods no, thought Severus, not yet.
Severus didn't actually favor Draco as much as he let on that he did. Snape did not actually like very many people at all, for that matter. But Severus did feel a certain protective instinct when it came to his Slytherins, and he did have a special affinity for Draco in particular.
"Were you hoping to have him initiated early?" Snape asked his one-time friend. He sincerely hoped the answer was 'no.'
"Yes and no," said Lucius. Snape raised an eyebrow at this.
"As much as Draco and I would like that, I don't think it would be prudent for him to take the Mark before finishing school," the elder Malfoy elaborated.
At that moment, Draco entered the room. "You wanted to see me, Father," said Draco.
"Hullo, Professor Snape," Draco acknowledged his teacher as well.
"Ah, Draco, excellent timing," Lucius smiled at his heir fondly. "I've asked your professor here today to discuss your career once you finish your schooling."
"What did you have in mind, Father?" asked the Obedient Son.
"Ah, well Draco," and here Lucius turned to Snape, "I was wondering if Severus here would take you on as an apprentice for the remainder of the summer holidays," Lucius voiced the statement as a question posed toward the potions master.
"Oh, that sounds lovely father," Draco chimed in, throwing his most charming smile Snape's way.
"What do you say, Severus?" asked Lucius.
You need to work on your acting skills, Severus mentally sneered at Lucius and his son.
"Sounds like one of your better ideas, Lucius," Snape responded truthfully, "though I will, of course, have to clear it with the Headmaster before I can give you a definite answer.
"That shouldn't be a problem," Lucius smirked. The wizard knew the extent of his influence.
* * * * *
"The scene was clearly rehearsed, Albus. He's placing Draco here as a spy. Of that I have no doubt."
Severus Snape sat in a squashy armchair in the Headmaster's office. For once he was not wearing Dumbledore's carpeting thin. Dumbledore was the only person Snape would ever allow to witness him pacing, or sitting comfortably for that matter. Though this time it was by the Headmaster's direct command that Severus found himself sitting, and in a purple and blue chair at that!
"And you are certain that young Mr. Malfoy has not yet taken the Dark Mark, Severus?" asked Albus.
"I am certain. Lucius said as much. Draco won't be marked until he leaves Hogwarts."
Severus wished very much that he could convey to Draco that joining the Dark Lord's ranks would be much like marrying a dementor, but his position as a spy disallowed such action.
"What do you propose we do, Headmaster?" asked Snape. "Potter cannot be trusted to act responsibly in the best of circumstances, least of all with Draco around."
Dumbledore threw Snape an exasperated look, then sighed. "No. Young Harry cannot be trusted to refrain from causing mischief. Nor can young Mr. Malfoy be trusted to abstain from casting any Unforgivables."
Snape sent the Headmaster his best glare. "He is not a Death Eater yet," Snape hissed.
Dumbledore raised his eyebrows at that. "No. No, he is not." Albus sighed. "But the ministry refuse to see Lucius Malfoy for his true self, and he has undoubtedly taught Draco many illegal curses. I know you believe I treat your Slytherins unfairly, Severus."
Snape's head shot up at the last. He had certainly never implied as much, though the Headmaster was not wrong in his assumption. The Headmaster looked old; his eyes were devoid of any twinkle.
"I will not make excuses for myself," Albus continued. "Only know that it is in no way intentional."
* * * * *
Severus Snape looked up from his cauldron when he heard a knock on the door to his potions lab.
"Enter," Snape said, annoyed at the interruption but curious as to who would be calling on him at this time, as he had just spoken to the headmaster.
Snape smirked as a blue-haired Harry Potter glared at him as he entered the room.
"Very funny, Professor," said a disgruntled Harry Potter.
"I don't know what you're on about Potter, it's rather a fetching look on you, I think," said an amused Severus. "Especially compared to your usual untamed mop." That's odd though, thought Snape, the potion shouldn't have straitened his hair any, it should only have dyed it…
"You just couldn't do something nice without ruining it, Professor, could you?" Harry continued.
Snape glared at Potter. "If you are foolish enough to drink a potion of questionable origins then you should consider yourself quite fortunate that the consequences were quite trivial, Potter!"
Snape was glad to see that Potter looked duly chastised. Potter looked as though he was about to say something, causing Snape to preempt such a nuisance.
"Out, Potter," said Snape as he returned his attention to his work. "And take this," Snape added as an afterthought as he handed Potter his corrected assignments, which were covered in enough red to do justice to a battlefield. "We will discuss them tomorrow."
Perhaps if he modified the Brat's Deceitfulness Potion, he could make something useful out of it. He was running out of time.
Leave it to Potter to invent a Potion that forces you to lie. How very appropriate, Snape reflected. Though the Brat's potion might prove useful if used in conjunction with Occlumency, if nothing else…
Snape grimaced. He would have to test the potion on himself in order to find out anything useful. Damn.