Reviewer thank-yous are awesome! Thank you LinZE, again…you rock! Thank you excessivelyperky…yeah, I know. Most of this was never revised. It's true. I'm sorry! Thank you Snape's Secrets…just out of curiosity, what are Snape's Secrets? Other than his affinity for the ocarina…but that's another story. Thank you MellonDrama…is that Mellon as in Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness? YES!!!!!!!!! Billy Corgan pride! Ahem…moving on…I got this awesome coat the other day that I'm officially christening the Snape Coat because it's long and black and it swoops. Go Snape coat! Oh, in case you were wondering…I'm moving to Montana soon to be a dental floss tycoon. If you know what I'm talking about, you're really cool. This is a real chapter for once. It's a miracle! I features Draco angst. Come on, it's not like Snape's got a monopoly on all the angst in this story. There's enough angst to go around. Everybody can have some! Yes, loyal reader, even you! Me, I get out all my angst with this story. No foolin'.
The Fourth-Year Gryffindors looked liked someone had threatened to kill their mommies when they walked into class this morning. I'd managed to get some sleep the night before—just a few hours, so I was still pretty groggy—and had made sure I didn't look like a psycho. I did that by putting on a freshly cleaned and pressed robe, washing my hair thoroughly, and shoving down some
buttered toast at breakfast. In all honesty, I can't figure out why they were so scared…maybe they got too comfortable with having me out of the picture. I don't think my temperament with them changed at all. I was entirely sarcastic, I took off copious amounts of points from Gryffindor, and gave a couple students detention. I consider that a success. I really, really don't want them thinking that I had some life-changing event and became a new man. That's about the last thing I want a bunch of Fourth-Year Gryffindors thinking. When that class ended, I had my Seventh-Year Slytherins, Draco Malfoy included. I have to say that it was a…well, it was fun. By all accounts, it was fun. How else could one describe it? We were all witty, everyone was paying attention…it was one of the best classes I've ever taught. And I smirked twice. It wasn't a smile, but it was about 60 percent of one. That's progress, in my opinion. After class, Draco stayed behind.
"I'm glad you're back, Professor."
"I'm glad to be back, too. Thank you for the letter."
"You're welcome."
"How are your parents, Draco?" He sighed. I knew it was a touchy subject, but I really had to know.
"I really don't know about my father. I don't want to see him. I'm angry at him."
"You have a right to."
"He was a good father. In most respects. I just couldn't understand why…"
"Neither could I. I never could understand why such a charismatic man as your father would want to join with Voldemort. I had my own reasons…" Then I had to pause. I never really can know who knows about my past and who doesn't know. I assumed that Draco did, and thankfully he did.
"I suppose my dad just wanted power."
"You're probably right…and how's Narcissa?"
"She's not good. She was very attached to my father, and now that she can't see him…they loved each other, and they can never see each other for the rest of their lives. I understand why, it's perfectly logical, it's just…my parents are people. Everyone seems to keep forgetting that. My father was power-hungry and my mother was manipulative but they were people. Why is that so hard to grasp?" He was about to cry. "My mother's depressed. I think I should petition Dumbledore or someone to let her go to St. Mungo's and get some help…" I put my hand on his. At that moment, I felt like a father, and while it was a bit creepy it also felt very appropriate.
"Draco, I'll talk to Dumbledore. He'll understand. They'll take good care of her there…that's where I've been." He began to sob quietly.
"Professor, I was so excited and I went to your apartment and there you were and…why? I shouldn't be asking this, but why? I can't understand. You were always the protector, all the Slytherins looked up to you…I never…"
"I don't know why I did it, Draco. I'm so sorry you had to see it. I was in a bad place, and I'm better now." He stopped crying and started yelling. Well, it wasn't yelling. It was that cold, quiet Slytherin talking-to that he either learned from Lucius or me.
"Yeah, that's what I figured. You'd give some half-assed answer like that and expect it to be enough. It's not enough. I know I'm just a student, but I'm a student who depended on you and thought that you were…a damned demigod! I knew you were human, but I never could even fathom…if Professor Snape wants to kill himself, it might just seem like one more tough break for Draco Malfoy, but enough tough breaks and I start getting angry." I had to stop. What do you say to something like that? I decided that I should just tell him the truth.
"All right, Draco. I'll tell you why. I tried to stab myself to death with a quill because at that moment I hated myself, and it didn't even cross my mind that other people might care. I didn't have the presence of mind to consider whether you would care if I died. I was selfish, and I was sick, and I'm sorry. I'm as sorry as I possibly can be, which might not seem sorry enough but it's all I can give you, Draco. I'd never do it again, Draco. Never."
"Professor, I'm sorry I got mad, I'm truly sorry…"
"You had a right to be! Don't be sorry."
"Still…"
"Forget about it, Draco. I deserve it."
"okay. Thank you, Professor. If you ever need me to help grade papers or teach a First-Year class or anything, I'd be happy to help."
"I appreciate the offer, Draco."
"And if you'd eve like to come visit me and my mum…we'd be glad to have you over."
"Would it be allowed?"
"I'm sure. I think she might like entertaining a guest for a few days. Maybe over the Christmas break? That's coming up soon…" And it is. Only another week until the students head out. For the first year in what seems like a million, I'll be buying presents.
"Do you think two houseguests would be too many for Narcissa to handle?" His eyes widened. I knew it would cheer him up if I managed to work Minerva into the conversation.
"Not at all, but who's the mystery guest?"
"This doesn't leave this classroom, but it's Professor McGonagall." He laughed. It was probably an involuntary reaction from the shock.
"What?"
"She might not want to come. Would you want her over?" He grinned.
"Are you kidding? I'd love it! Professor…I can't believe this…you're actually dating Professor McGonagall?"
"Hard to believe, isn't it."
"It's amazing…I'm great at keeping secrets, don't worry."
"Thank you, Draco."
"We can discuss the specifics after the next class. Of your visit, I mean. Is that all right with you?"
"That's a good time. See you soon, Draco."
"Goodbye, Professor!" He was still grinning as he walked out the door. The rest of the school day was uneventful—another Slytherin class, and a few Hufflepuffs. I'm sitting in my office now and I'm drinking some tea that Poppy Pomfrey's been handing out. Apparently it prevents colds. At this point, a cold might be the least of my problems, but the tea's warm and comforting. I can't believe I kept it together during that talk with Draco. I think I really did a bang-up job with that one. 200 points for Slytherin…not. Speaking of points, Slytherin's been winning some games recently and they're in the lead for the house cup. Draco's not the best Seeker, but when he tries his damnest it usually works out for the best. What should I do know? I could go talk to Dumbledore—I think he wants to go out to dinner with Minerva and me tonight. That should be interesting. I smirked three times while writing that.