Disclaimer: Same as before
Chapter 6 – Unexpected Company
Severus Snape mumbled incoherently to himself as he stalked down the dungeon hall to his office, his fists clenched, the deepest of frowns chiselled upon his stony visage. What the hell is wrong with me, he thought to himself; what do I think I am doing. I am not that man anymore… I cannot be that person I used to be… I cannot bear to be.
It was fifteen years since he was last a true father, since he last cared about anyone or anything. He had hardened his heart over those long and lonely years, placing all of the hurt in the furthest corner of his mind where he had forgotten it existed. Where his family existed. Was he now going to allow a sixteen year old boy to ruin all he had worked for? But he is your son, a voice spoke from within, one he had ignored for these many years. He is a stranger, he argued, we know nothing of each other. The only way he knew how not to lose Julius, was to push him away, even if it meant that he could never be what his heart so desperately wanted him to be. At least until the Dark Lord was defeated. But he needs you, the voice continued, and you know you need him. "I can't!" he shouted to the empty hall, and clenched his jaw, angry at himself for losing control, his breath was coming in shallow bursts as he fought with himself, nearing his office.
"Halt, ye Shadow-clad Rogue! Prepare to meet thy doom, Swarthy Knave!" shouted the over-zealous, horse-bound knight of Sir Cadogan as Snape approached his portrait. He had hung within this hall for over two years since the fat lady was restored to the Gryffindor Tower door after Sirius Black had slashed her. Severus swore Dumbledore put him down here on purpose just to get on his nerves.
His sword drawn in a valiant pose, Sir Cadogan goaded the smouldering Potions Master. "I challenge thee to a duel! Stand fast and fight for your…"
He never made it to 'honour!' for at that exact moment Snape lashed out with his fist, pummelling it hard into the portrait, and continued on his way without so much as a backward glance. Sir Cadogan sat on his horse for a moment with a rather silly look on his face before falling out of the saddle and into an unconscious heap on the delicately painted, grassy knoll, the gilded frame swinging precariously on one corner.
The Potions professor stormed into his office, cursing himself for leaving it unwarded as he strode to his desk, preparing to grade the latest stack of third-year essays. As he made to sit down, an all-too-familiar chuckle caused him to pause, sending a cold chill up his spine.
"Good morning, Severus," spoke the cool aristocratic voice of Lucius Malfoy. He was sitting quite comfortably upon the couch against the wall, stretched out along its length with his legs crossed as he absently fingered through a book Severus had been reading the other night. Turning to face towards his dark brother-in-crime, he offered a insidious smile, and sat up straight, placing the book down beside him. "Getting careless in your old age, aren't you?"
"What do you want, Lucius," Snape growled, staring fixedly at the assignments scattered before him, not in the mood for visitors. He would have to show up today of all days, he thought angrily. As he began correcting the papers before him, he remarked quietly, "The only time I can count on seeing you is when you desire something of me."
"Now, now, Severus," replied Malfoy, the slightest of frowns upon his lips, "it is true that I have come to ask a favour, but you really are being unfair. I can tell something is bothering you, so why not spill and have done with it?" Lucius watched Snape closely, taking in his darkened eyes and unkempt hair. "You look terrible, by the way."
Severus sighed looking up from his paperwork, and crossed his arms on the table before him, learning forward in exasperation. "Look Lucius, I have had an exhausting few days, I am in a horrible mood, and I have no wish to confide anything at the moment, so if you will please just tell me what you are after, we can both get what we want… and have done with it."
Lucius lifted his chin slightly in response, unused to being addressed in such a detestable manner. "All I want… is to borrow a certain book from you, as I know you have just about every book known to the potion's world," he answered testily, "then I will be more than happy to get out of your hair, Severus. Aelfred Willendorfer's Potiones, Poisones and…"
"Brewes," finished Snape, knowing the book well. Rising slowly to make his way towards his study door, he drew out his wand, unwarded it and entered, heading towards the bookcase on the far side of the small cozy room.
Lucius followed him quietly, glancing about with curiosity, having never been in the Potions professors most private room. His blue eyes casually noted the various portraits on the walls, the neat line of antique potion bottles and containers along the mantle. His attention was caught, however, as he cast his gaze down to the table beside one of the armchairs in front of the fire. His well manicured fingers gently lifted a small picture frame, holding it up for closer inspection.
"Are you still pining after her, Severus, after all these years?" Lucius inquired interestedly. Noting the empty decanter that had been placed behind it, his sharp eyes darted towards his bedraggled colleague to find Severus already watching him.
"A momentary weakness; it happens occasionally," he answered evenly (though his heart was pumping a mile a minute), turning back to the case and pulling out the desired tome.
"I believe it was weakness that put you in that predicament in the first place." Malfoy continued slyly. "Of course, whether that particular weakness was momentary is still highly debatable. The Dark Lord would not be very pleased, Severus, if he knew you were still mourning the death of your wife and son."
Snape traversed the distance between them in several long strides and pushed the book forcefully into Lucius Malfoy's hands, giving his visitor a dark seething look. "I believe you now have what you came here for, Lucius. So if you don't mind, I believe it is your turn to hold up your part of the bargain."
Glaring at his friend, Lucius set the photograph back onto the table and strode from the room, anger as well as inquisitiveness stirring within him. Something was up; he could smell it. He just didn't know what it was… yet.
"Alright there Mudblood?" Draco Malfoy shouted across the courtyard as he stood there with his small gang of Slytherin students laughing at the arrangement of bodies making their way towards the castle. Harry and Ron were acting as crutches for the girl who had apparently injured her leg, each with one of Hermione's arms about their necks as they supported her. "Did poor baby fall down and go boom?" he cried, mimicking a broom mishap, making his companions laugh all the louder."
"Go stuff it, Malfoy," Ron shouted back, as they passed, heading towards the Hospital Wing. Hermione muttering something about 'that being the last time she gets on a broom with him'.
Draco laughed, his blue eyes twinkling with menace as he watched the three clumsily make their way up the stone stairs. His smile faded though, as another tall blond-haired figure stepped out, walking in his direction. "Father…"
Grasping a hold of the scruff of Draco's robe, Lucius pulled his son along with him towards the other side of the fountain, causing Draco to turn red with embarrassment in front of his friends. "Father!" he complained, trying to shake himself loose.
"Shut up and listen to me boy," Lucius snapped as he leaned in towards his son. "What do you know about Professor Snape? Has he been acting strangely to you?"
Draco furrowed his brows, unsure of why his father was so interested in Snape all of a sudden. He shook his head, his blue eyes gazing curiously at his father. "No, sir. I haven't seen anything. Why?"
"Professor Snape's family was killed fifteen years ago on the Dark Lord's orders; I won't say why. But even after fifteen years, he still mourns his wife and son, Julius. I want to know if you see anything suspicious, if he starts acting strange." Lucius cast a concerned glance towards the castle and sighed, turning back to his son. "I think Professor Snape might be losing his mind. Gods know, he has been under the Cruciatus curse enough times to do it."
A/N: Alright, I am not too sure I like the Lucius/Draco scene, but it is the best I could come up with. Draco had to find out Snape's son's name.
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