Anam Cara
10. Intrusion
"Uncle Severus."
Hiding his surprise, Severus raked his eyes over the Malfoy before him. Draco was tall now, though he didn't match his own height, and was as lean as ever. His voice was the same cold drawl he remembered, but that was one of the only things reminiscent of the boy who had left Hogwarts several years past.
His flaxen hair was no longer slicked back neatly, light reflecting from its gel-induced gleam, but was a dirty blonde, trailing to his shoulders and unkempt. His face was pale and expressionless; his ice-blue eyes the only true colour that shone there. Severus felt a slight twinge at the sight of him. Draco Malfoy had become exactly what he hoped he wouldn't; a shell of a man, too much like himself to bear.
What is his part in all of this?
"Draco. What a pleasant surprise." He nodded to the boy. "And Minister. What brings you here?"
The Minister's cheery smile became somewhat frozen. "That's on a- er need-to-know basis at the moment, Severus. I sent a letter ahead to Dumbledore to inform his of my coming. I hope he will not be inconvenienced by my premature arrival."
Liar, Severus thought, biting back the temptation to roll his eyes at the red-cheeked man. I could see right though you even if I didn't know what was going on.
"I wouldn't think so."
"Be a good man and lead us to his office, then."
"Certainly, Minister." Severus forced his unwilling face into an oily smile as he began their path up the carpeted stairs.
"He's coming up the path," announced McGonagall peering out of one of high windows.
"Early, as you expected, Albus. But there's someone…Good Merlin…it can't be. Why on earth is he here?"
Dumbledore joined her at the window, adjusting his half-moon spectacles. When the tall, blonde man walking with long, determined steps beside Cornelius Fudge came into view, he raised an eyebrow.
"Ah. Mr Malfoy. This may complicate matters…"
"You think he was the one who discovered Miss Granger's whereabouts?"
"More than certainly. I have been following his tracks for a while now, Minerva," Dumbledore ran his long fingers through his white beard thoughtfully. "Young Mr Malfoy seems to have had a vendetta against her for a while now. Since what he considers his greatest error."
"Killing his father was a triumph wasn't it? Surely, he isn't-"
"I am not speaking of that, Minerva. Mr Malfoy's deed was something that impacted him far more than Lucius ever did."
Minerva didn't answer, but narrowed her eyes, pressing him to speak.
"You heard, I presume, of the death of a young Muggle girl in the war, a Charlotte West?"
"Well, of course, Albus, but she was just one of many who were caught in midst of it."
"No," answered the Headmaster, shaking his head gravely. "No, indeed. Draco had returned to the Death-Eaters, at the Ministry's request, as not to arouse suspicion. He was working from within and at the final battle intended to turn fire on many of Voldemort's followers, under the ruse that they were slain by our side. Of course, in the heat of the fight, he was acting impulsively, his wand a mere extension of his own anger. Anger often clouds one's mind, Minerva, and when Miss West, attempting to escape from her cloaked captors, fled, he simply aimed and paid later. He has never forgiven himself, though he was privately cleared of all charges."
Minerva stared quietly at him. "I never knew," she said, simply. "But that doesn't tell me why he wishes to destroy Hermione."
"Every last member of the Death-Eater's was hunted down and destroyed by Aurors; many defeated by their own bravado and an attempt at becoming another Dark Lord."
"Hermione was the only one left remaining," finished Minerva. "Draco sees the Death-Eater's as the cause of his constant self-hate…which would make her his ultimate target."
"Yes. We have protected her well enough for now...but until we take further measures, we have no guarantee that he won't find her. There's no doubt that he knows she's here, it's just a matter of time. I fear mostly for him; if he hurts another innocent, he may not be able to live with himself."
Minerva began to think, her hawk-like eyes trained over his shoulder in deliberation. "We need to get him away from Fudge. Severus should be the one to convince him. Offer him concrete evidence that Hermione is not an ex-Death-Eater." She walked over to the window again, her brow furrowed
"Indeed. Perhaps his Pensieve-"
Minerva's voice stopped him. "Albus?"
"Yes?"
"Am I right in my idea of who is out there?" she nodded towards the Dark Forest, her thin lips pursed.
Dumbledore looked out in her direction. "If your guess was Aurors, then you are correct. Fudge hasn't chosen the most secure method of scouring the castle if I can see his plan from my own window."
Out in the darkness of the grounds, several shadows shifted from beside the frost covered trees. The rustling in the grass was not that of the wind, it was of crouched figures, watching the castle.
"You must do what you can to remove Severus and Draco from the room when he arrives and find Hermione. She may be invisible but we cannot take any chances now Fudge is here. If we can convince Draco, then we can eliminate the Ministry's presence from Hogwarts."
Minerva nodded. "I'll go now." She turned to the door and turned the golden handle, only to take a step back as it opened slowly inwards. She looked back round at the Headmaster.
"The Minister is here to see you, Albus," she said, her eyes concealing her surprise.
Dumbledore imitated her calm. "Send him in Minerva."
Professor McGonagall stepped back to allow Fudge, Draco and Severus to enter.
"Good evening Cornelius. I trust you are well? I was rather taken aback at your owl. Your visits are only usually bestowed upon us in term time, if at all."
"I have my reasons for being here, Albus."
"If I may," the three men looked to McGonagall who had interrupted. "There was something I needed to speak to Severus about concerning the new school year. If you wouldn't mind, I need to take him from your company, Minister."
Fudge surveyed her closely. "New school year?" he repeated.
"Yes. There has been a conflict with some of the letters sent to Muggleborns which must be resolved immediately."
The Minister exhaled slowly, and then adjusted his yellow bowler hat, that took great restraint for her not to cringe at. "Very well. I would like to speak you though, Severus."
Severus feigned mild curiosity. "Then I shall not take long, Minister."
Both Head of Houses turned to leave.
"If you don't mind," said Draco softly. "I shall accompany you."
Severus almost frowned as Minerva nodded acceptance.
The three left Dumbledore's office and set off down the staircase.
"So Hagrid can inform the students of the change when they arrive?"
"I suppose so," answered Minerva. "You don't need to stay any longer, Severus. I can sort these out and take them to the Owlery now."
Severus nodded and shut the door to Minerva's study, Draco following him out. Without being conspicuous, she had managed to tell him that it was vital for Draco to be convinced of the truth, through the pretence of a school-related dilemma.
"We can return to Fudge now, if that is what you wish," he told his god-son who had been unnervingly quiet all the while.
Draco paused by the end of the staircase they were taking to lead them back to the Headmaster's office. He ran a pale hand over the ugly, inanimate gargoyle that sat there, his eyes roaming the corridor restlessly.
"I wonder, Uncle," he answered. "If we could postpone that journey. We need to talk, if only briefly. In your office, perhaps?" His blue eyes scanned Severus, as if waiting for him to suggest if would be better to return upstairs.
The elder Slytherin waited a moment before answering. "Lead the way," he relied, gesturing with one hand towards the dungeons.
A/N: Thanks a lot for all of your reviews and I'm sorry I've kept you waiting- I've had a lot of technical issues and have been able to type anything up recently. I hope this has been resolved. If anyone's interested, I'm still writing the Sakura back-story on the side- three chapters are done, two beta-d, and I'm hoping to start posting once I've written four.